A History of Bassishaw Ward

Bassishaw Ward, originally named Basing Hall after the family of Basing, was one of the smallest districts in medieval London. A mix of large residential buildings, compact rental tenements, and a labyrinth of small lanes and courtyards, it was located at the heart of city government as well as the cloth trade.

City merchants and tradesmen flocked to the area not only for buying and selling their wares, but also to seek legal advice and arbitration. Bassishaw's only parish church, St. Michael Bassishaw, benefited greatly from these circumstances due to the affluent merchants who chose to live within its jurisdiction.

In A History of Bassishaw Ward: c. 1200 - c. 1600, author Christine M. Fox, PhD, as commissioned by Alderman Timothy Hailes, JP, offers the first comprehensive, yet accessible, study of the medieval history of Bassishaw Ward.

Drawing from a wealth of surviving city records, Fox illuminates this area's past and examines its complex political and economic conditions. This detailed book presents a rich tapestry of the ward's life, its attitudes toward the poor, and even its handling of immigration. Many of these issues still resonate deeply today within twenty-first century Britain.