Immigrant England, 1300–1550

Immigrant England tells the story of thousands of people who migrated to later medieval England. The book draws on uniquely rich evidence about the lives of these men and women, and analyses the attitudes of the English to the foreigners in their midst. Essential reading for everyone interested in the historical dimensions of modern debates. -- .

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This book provides a vivid and accessible history of first-generation immigrants to England in the later Middle Ages. Accounting for upwards of two percent of the population and coming from all parts of Europe and beyond, immigrants spread out over the kingdom, settling in the countryside as well as in towns, taking work as agricultural labourers, skilled craftspeople and professionals. Often encouraged and welcomed, sometimes vilified and victimised, immigrants were always on the social and political agenda.

Immigrant England is the first book to address a phenomenon and issue of vital concern to English people at the time, to their descendants living in the United Kingdom today and to all those interested in the historical dimensions of immigration policy, attitudes to ethnicity and race and concepts of Englishness and Britishness. -- .