Medieval Merseyside

By the beginning of the fifth century AD the Roman Empire was in disarray. The final garrisons left these shores during Constantine’s reign, around AD407. Left behind were the British, the indigenous population (albeit with some inevitable mixing with the Roman incomers). The Germanic tribes migrating around mainland Europe at this time (and contributing the Rome’s fall), reached these shores in the following centuries. Later on in the middle ages the Danes and the Norse also made their way across the North Sea, settling in vast areas of eastern England. This period lasted until the Norman Conquest of 1066, but what trace, if any, has it left on the landscape of Liverpool?

There is very little archaeological evidence on Merseyside for the so-called Anglo-Saxon and Viking periods. Our best source of evidence, given what we know about the British Isles as a whole during this time, are the place names of the towns and villages around the region. Looking at the map, we can see a whole load of clues as to where the European invaders landed and set their homes. [see figure] The origins of names in Merseyside are mixed. There are the old indigenous names of places such as Bootle (‘botl’ – a dwelling place) and Walton (‘wala tun’ – British farm). There are also the names which derive from the new settlers languages: Toxteth (Tocca’s staith, or landing place), the Mersey (‘maeres ea’ – boundary river) and Kirkby (‘Cherchebi’ – village with a church). Despite being able to pinpoint many settlements from the time, we can’t quite draw a line between the Norse communities and the indigenous Britons. Doubtless there was frequent contact, and we can’t be sure of the extent to which the newcomers mingle with the communities they found here. You’ll have to come to your own conclusions about the people who occupied your own part of the city!

West Derby Hundred

While we can’t look in detail at the divisions between the Brits and the Scandinavians and Germans, we do know the structure of the society; a situation that still affects many of the institutions in existence today. A ‘Hundred’ was one of the most important divisions in the country. There are many theories as to what the exact definition of a hundred was, but suffice to say that it was a large land division, but varying in size, and that the West Derby hundred was the most important in this area. West Derby in this sense, occupied the vast majority of what was until recently South Lancashire, from the Mersey to the Ribble. [figure]. At the time, communities were largely self-governing, but swore allegiance at a ‘wapentake’, a meeting of co-operative tribes, families or villages for purposes of defence.

However, this situation came under threat in the chaotic circumstances of 1st millennium Europe. Warfare became commonplace, and individual families and communities were no longer strong enough to deter marauding bands crossing the continent, or even particularly violent peasant revolts. The solution that was adopted, first in Europe and then imported by William the Conqueror, was one whereby a large number of landowners, on many scales, swore allegiance to a powerful overlord who, due to his large following, could assure mutual support. In exchange, unfortunately, the followers had to give up all ownership rights. They became the classic feudal serfs of the medieval period.

This form of social structure was gradually emerging in the British Isles at the time of Edward the Confessor, who had located his hunting lodge in West Derby Hundred, and built a castle here some time in the 11th Century. After Hastings in 1066, however, King William imposed the scheme wholesale on the whole country. For the first time, all land in England belonged ultimately to the Crown. This was then given as rewards to those who had been loyal in conquest. With this, Roger of Poitou received West Derby Hundred for his part in the invasion. He brought the areas of Croxteth, Toxteth and Smithdown into the great royal hunting forest, and by now West Derby rivalled Lancaster in administrative importance in Lancashire.

This importance began to wane while Roger was drawn into several failed rebellions against the monarch, and West Derby lost some of its importance as a result.

In 1199 John succeeded his brother Richard as King of England. He had a poor reputation as leader of men, and only became king as the Lionheart was killed in France. Having been trusted with ruling Ireland years earlier (and failing appallingly), John again looked to the west for his conquests. Merseyside’s position was of course the crucial factor in this turning point in its history. The land which once belonged to Poitier (‘between Ribble and Mersey’) had been given as a reward to Warine of Lancaster by Henry II (John and Richard’s father). John, remaining at home while Richard went Crusading, passed it in turn to Warine’s son, Henry Fitzwarine. In 1207 John bought back Liverpool itself, exchanging it for English Lea, an area near Preston. He clearly knew the location’s potential in relation to Irish campaigns. With this in mind, on the 28th August, 1207, King John signed a charter creating a borough, and giving anyone holding a burgage “all liberties and free customs… which any free borough on the sea has in our land”.