Full Project Title: 'Landownership Changes In The Lordship Of Gower, 1750-1850'
Doctoral Researcher: Jeff Childs
Supervised by: Dr Shaun Evans and Dr Lowri Ann Rees
The lordship of Gower was established following the Norman conquest of the area in the early twelfth century and remains a viable entity today. It came to include twenty-four ecclesiastical parishes, although the geographical focus of this study will be Gower Anglicana which comprised the eighteen parishes of peninsular Gower, the two parishes of Swansea and the parish of Llandeilo Tal-y-bont. The research will consider the similarities, contrasts and variabilities within this part of the lordship - topographic, geographic, economic, political, demographic, cultural and religious - and how these influenced or affected the ownership and occupation of land between 1750 and 1850.
Principally through a case study approach it will seek to identify and explain: the changes in landownership which took place; the dynamics, determinants and underlying forces which were active; how the dynamics and drivers of change were manifested; who or what were the drivers - or indeed inhibitors - of change; how permanent or transient were such changes and what their impact was, individually and collectively. In so doing it aims to fill an important gap in our knowledge and appraisal of this subject when applied to this part of south Wales.
