AbstractsGeography &GIS

This thesis is primarily a study in historical geography. It seeks to trace the development of one small centre of population to city status. In so doing, an attempt is made to expose, define and evaluate the processes which influence functional differentiation in a growing settlement node. Many would agree with Handlin that "we need fewer studies of the city in history than of the history of cities", though some would disagree that "no amount of theorising about the nature of cities will answer questions posed by their individual and regional differences. While the subject of this investigation is essentially a microcosm having "the advantage of permitting a close and detailed study" it is hoped to avoid, in part at least, the accompanying "drawback of being non-representative."