My research examines the social and economic history of Lancashire's medieval coastal landscapes by means of three local geographical case studies (the River Alt, Martin Mere, and Liverpool), by applying an innovative interdisciplinary methodology. Drawing on original medieval documents in Lancashire Archives and beyond, my research focuses on the rich topographical details, such as minor place-names and boundary clauses, to investigate local socio-economic activity, human interaction with wetland environments and its bearing on rural and urban development during the period c.1150 to 1550. My approach combines the analysis of medieval documents. minor place-names and the landscape through spatial analysis using GIS. My research was supported by an ESRC CASE studentship in collaboration with Lancashire County Archives at Preston. My broader research interests include investigating change in historic landscapes and how human interactions influenced physical and environmental change, socio-economic development of rural and urban communities, medieval monastic communities and their influence on the landscape, medieval land tenure.
Thegns, Drains, and Minor Place-Names: The Economic and Social Evolution of Lancashire's Medieval Coastal Landscapes, c.1150 to 1550.
Economic and Social Research Council CASE studentship in collaboration with Lancashire County Archives
I have contributed as a seminar tutor on HIST107 Witches', Warriors and Slavers, Exploring the History of Lancaster, HIST100 From Ancient to Modern: History and Historians, HIST199 ''Witches', Warriors, and Slavers: Exploring the History of Lancaster'.
Student Committee member of Society for Name Studies in Britain and Ireland
Committee member of Lancashire Place Names Survey project
My email is j.masters1@lancaster.ac.uk
