This series on the towns and cities of Britain provides an introduction to the research in this field. This book brings together 12 articles by historians previously only in journals, together with an editorial introduction, to throw light on the evolution of medieval towns, and on the life of their inhabitants. The chronological range of the essays spans the period from the dramatic urban expansion in the 13th century, to the early 1500s. The diversity of approach to the problems of urban society revealed in these articles reflects and illustrates the breadth of current debates. Through their Introduction the editors set this work in context, not only drawing attention to the particular achievements of current scholarship but also indicating aspects of the subject still neglected by historians.