ABSTRACT

Housing Culture is an inter-disciplinary study of old houses. It brings together recent ideas in studies of traditional architecture, social and cultural history, and social theory, by looking at the meanings of traditional architecture in western Suffolk, England. The author employs in an English context many of the ideas of Glassie, Deetz and other writers on the American colonies. In so doing, the book forms an important critique and refinement of those ideas, and should prove an indispensable background text for American historical archaeologists in particular. The study spans the late medieval and early modern periods, looking at the layout and structural details of ordinary houses. It argues for a process of closure affecting both technical and social aspects of houses. The context of the process of closure is explored and related to wider social and cultural changes including the feudal/capitalist transition. Housing Culture embodies an innovative and exciting approach to the study of artefacts in an historic period. It will interest historians, historical geographers and archaeologists of the medieval and early modern periods in both England and America. It is also sure to be of interest to students of all areas and periods who seek a theoretically informed approach to the study of traditional architecture and material culture in general. This book is intended for archaeologists, historians (particularly of landscape, architecture, the medieval period, social and cultural) historical geographers, students and researchers of material culture; such groups are found within departments of archeaology, history and anthropology.

chapter 1|15 pages

Introduction

chapter 2|12 pages

An introduction to western Suffolk

chapter 3|15 pages

Houses, tradition and social meaning

chapter 4|19 pages

Open houses

chapter 5|22 pages

Transitional houses

chapter 6|15 pages

Closed houses

chapter 7|22 pages

The transformation of the technical system

chapter 8|15 pages

Order and meaning in the closed household

chapter 9|21 pages

Status, class and relations between houses

chapter 10|13 pages

A process of enclosure

chapter 11|6 pages

Conclusion: old houses, modern meanings

chapter 1|4 pages

List of houses

chapter 2|4 pages

List of probate inventories