Liable to Floods

Download or read book Liable to Floods written by J. R. Ravensdale and published by CUP Archive. This book was released on 1974-09-26 with total page 236 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book studies the evolution and destruction of a part of the English landscape, following the history of three peasant communities - Landbeach, Waterbeach and Cottenham - on the margin of the Fens. Here, lord and peasant together developed a society that derived its strength from the balance between arable and lush grassland. The fenman in his struggle against the unpredictable floods learned a wiliness that enabled him to outwit the new acquisitive landlords of the Tudor period and to control his own destiny. Thus the peasant community increased its power and kept the old ways of field and fell almost inviolate until commerce and industry created irresistible market forces.