In the researching and writing of my Domesday Book one thing that became very clear was that with the Norman invasion of 1066 there was to be a significant advance in many technologies. The Domesday Book itself as a book technology represented a major advance in the keeping of Royal Records for individual tax purposes. But advances of the physical craft skills was to be just as significant with in particular the ceramics (pottery), stone masonry and woodworking technologies to name but a few.
Whilst
prior to the Norman invasion both the minting of coins and the use of water
mills for milling were more advanced under the Anglo Saxons. Both minting and
milling represented the centralisation of manufacturing capabilities with
minting centralised to achieve Royal Legal control whilst milling required the
use of power resources (water). At least 20 mints are listed in the Domesday
Book but it was likely there were many more since each Shire (Country) tended
to have their own mint to keep up with the demand for coinage. Whilst with over
6000 water mill entries in the Domesday Book it was a well established Roman
technology often supported by the need for joint ownership to finance the high
capital investment required to build a water mill. This was the case
particularly when it included a mill pond if the more efficient overshot feed
water technology was being used to drive the mill.
On the subject of Craft Guilds this paper written by Gary Richardson, University of California (1992) (link below) is possibly one of the best on the subject particularly the Guild Census of 1388 (Page 10) with its list of occupations covered by the Guilds. I particularly like Minstrels and Actors since I am related to Robert and Martha Bannister, with their occupation defined as "Players and Comedians", when they registered the birth of twins Robert and Henry my forefathers in Broadway, United Kingdom on the 2nd August 1791.
Along with Whittawyers (saddlers), Coifmakers (cap worn under a veil) and Cordwainers (makes new shoes whilst Cobblers repair old ones) , Girdlers (makes belts often leather but particularly the metal buckle) and Spurriers (spurs added around riders shoes to urge the horse onwards).
It is amazing to see how many craft skills existed in the Medieval Period.
Also those that think Brexit and trade barriers is a 21st Century problem go to Page 14 noting the following :-
"A treaty between King Canute of Britain and Emperor Conrad of Lombardy limiting tolls taken from English and Italian merchants was signed in 1027."
This paper examines if Guilds were focussed upon sharing best practice technology or discreetly maintaining a monopoly on selling prices. Guilds obviously claimed it was about setting quality standards not about price setting. Its a similar political debate to the Trump "Made in the USA" verse the "Made in China" subject being played out these days. These are acting like Country Guilds. Particularly the huge current American Government investment to bring computer chip manufacturing back to the USA from Taiwan. Whilst Taiwan is not China it is in danger of being taken over by China.
In passing has anyone else noticed the "Made in China" electric kettles branded by numerous suppliers are lucky to last 2 years. In the 1960's the "Made in the UK" electric kettles latest about 10 years. Do we need a Guild of Electric Kettles !!!!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gPicn77KgHDruEZMKbq1UaLy6tzhnfww/view?usp=sharing
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