Portslade History Trail. 1000 years of history in a one mile walk

14th Century Portslade

This century was one of tragedy, blighted by famine, civil unrest and foreign wars.

Portslade suffered from severe coastal erosion due to a series of violent storms. It lost over 60 acres of farm land and buildings to the sea. Portslade would also have been affected by following national events:

War and Civil Disorder.

The 14th century was a violent one. King Edward II was lazy and incompetent, heaping riches onto his personal favourites. This led to many battles with jealous rival Lords. He was deposed and murdered in 1327.

The Hundred Years War with France started during the reign of King Edward III in 1337, after many years of political tension. England fought numerous wars in this century, with the high costs forcing the imposition of heavy taxation.

Famine.

A great famine occurred in Europe between 1315 to1322, owing to a prolonged period of cold and wet weather. The situation was made worse by the medieval inability to dry and store grain. The peasants became severely malnourished, with many of the population starving to death. This resulted in extreme levels of crime, disease, child abandonment and even cannibalism.

The Black Death.

One of the worst pandemics in history, causing the death of over one third of the population. It was at its most lethal between 1348 to1352. It was carried by the fleas on black rats, with symptoms including fever, vomiting and boils. The disease started in Asia and spread across the world along trading routes.

It broke up the feudal system, which tied the peasants to the local Lords estate. With a greatly reduced work force, the surviving peasants could demand higher wages and lower rents.

The Peasants Revolt.

A major revolt of the peasants (also known as 'Wat Tyler's Rebellion'), took place in 1381, in protest at the highly unpopular Poll Tax. It was confined to the south and east of England and took several months to suppress. This was the first popular uprising in English history. Although unsuccessful, the aims of the rebels - more care for the poor, freedom, and equality - were eventually realised five centuries later.

On a brighter note for Portslade, in 1312 John de Warrenne, Lord of the Manor, was granted a licence by King Edward II to hold a fair annually on December 6th, this being the feast day of St Nicolas, to whom the adjoining church is dedicated.

Researched & written by Richard Powell

Pictured:

1. There were a series of floods across England in 1315.

2. The Battle of Bannockburn.

3. The great famine.

4. The Black Death

5. Wat Tyler, leader of the Peasants Revolt

6. The de Warrenne family coat of arms.