SILVER MINING IN ENGLAND AND WALES 1066-1500 submitted by Peter Frederick
Claughton, the University of Exeter as a thesis for the degree of Doctor
of Philosophy in Economic and Social History, March 2003. 357 pp, 27
figs, 8 tables, 15 Appendices.

There is a wealth of literature on post 16th century metal mining in
Britain, but until the appearance of this thesis very little was known
about mining in medieval Britain.

Now after 10 years research Peter has made an important contribution to
the history of silver mining in England and Wales. Silver played an
important part in the medieval economy. Lead was in demand for the roofs
of castle and cathedrals, but silver was needed for minting currency
(even pennies were made out of silver), the wool trade in particular
requiring payment in coin or bullion. The church also liked silver, so
much so that tithes were quite often paid in silver which was then
readily turned into church plate or communion goblets.

Peter has identified the main silver producing areas of this period: the
Northern Pennines, Mendip, the Welsh borders and South Devon. All the
silver from the period was obtained from Silver-Lead ores. The
proportions of Silver to Lead varied from 250 ounces or less per ton of
lead.

The scope of this thesis is quite encompassing and covers English and
Welsh Silver mining in context with other metals. The documentation
relating to silver mining appears to be quite sparse and is usually in
Latin. Silver production levels, including comparing outputs from the
difference areas are discussed. The techniques of silver mining, where
English methods are compared with those used in Europe has been included,
and smelting, refining, transport, the use of labour and the crisis
caused by plague are also outlined in some detail.

The ownership of minerals, and the organisation of mining, are described
and compared with parallels from Europe.

The appendices provide a useful set of reference articles including
silver output and productivity, lists of miners, mining accounts, the
Lumburn leat, production and smelting costs, wage rates and finally the
weights and measures used in silver mining.

The bibliography runs to 14 pages and I predict will be a useful
reference work for many years to come.

Although this work has only been published as a PhD thesis so that only 2
copies exist, it deserves a wider audience, and it is to be hoped that
some enterprising publisher will seize the opportunity to make it
available to a more extensive readership.

TO

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