Dividing the county of Hertfordshire into four broad regions--the
"champion" countryside in the north, the Chiltern dip slope to the west,
the fertile boulder clays of the east, and the unwelcoming London Clay
in the south--this volume explains how, in the course of the middle
ages, natural characteristics influenced the development of land use and
settlement to create a range of distinctive landscapes. The great
diversity of Hertfordshire's landscapes makes it a particularly
rewarding area of study. Variations in farming economies, in patterns of
trade and communication, as well as in the extent of London's influence,
have all played a part during the course of the postmedieval centuries,
and Hertfordshire's continuing evolution is followed into the 21st
century. Lavishly illustrated with maps and photographs, this
authoritative work is invaluable reading for all those with an interest
in the history, archaeology, and natural transformation of this
fascinating county.