Aaron Allen
- Published in print:
- 2018
- Published Online:
- May 2019
- ISBN:
- 9781474442381
- eISBN:
- 9781474453943
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Edinburgh University Press
- DOI:
- 10.3366/edinburgh/9781474442381.003.0001
- Subject:
- Society and Culture, Scottish Studies
The introduction explores the context in which the Incorporation of Mary’s Chapel developed. The phenomenon of the craft guild is an important part of the Europe’s urban social structure, from the ...
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The introduction explores the context in which the Incorporation of Mary’s Chapel developed. The phenomenon of the craft guild is an important part of the Europe’s urban social structure, from the largest capital city, to many of the smaller aspiring towns. Whether composite, with numerous trades, or granted to a single occupation, the feudalistic structures of urban work often favoured this protectionist institution, though corporate privileges and exclusivity were far from uniform, and always contested. In this chapter, a brief narrative of the Incorporation’s history sets the scene for the later chapters, followed by an account of how historians have viewed the process of incorporating Edinburgh’s building trades, from the eighteenth century to present day, demonstrating the need for a full study of such an important urban institution.Less
The introduction explores the context in which the Incorporation of Mary’s Chapel developed. The phenomenon of the craft guild is an important part of the Europe’s urban social structure, from the largest capital city, to many of the smaller aspiring towns. Whether composite, with numerous trades, or granted to a single occupation, the feudalistic structures of urban work often favoured this protectionist institution, though corporate privileges and exclusivity were far from uniform, and always contested. In this chapter, a brief narrative of the Incorporation’s history sets the scene for the later chapters, followed by an account of how historians have viewed the process of incorporating Edinburgh’s building trades, from the eighteenth century to present day, demonstrating the need for a full study of such an important urban institution.
Aaron Allen
- Published in print:
- 2018
- Published Online:
- May 2019
- ISBN:
- 9781474442381
- eISBN:
- 9781474453943
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Edinburgh University Press
- DOI:
- 10.3366/edinburgh/9781474442381.001.0001
- Subject:
- Society and Culture, Scottish Studies
Masons, carpenters and glaziers were all needed to build a house, but in many cities such trades had separate companies. In Edinburgh, however, they banded together in a single incorporation to seek ...
More
Masons, carpenters and glaziers were all needed to build a house, but in many cities such trades had separate companies. In Edinburgh, however, they banded together in a single incorporation to seek control of the labour market and defend their privileged position. Such issues were often contested by unfree competitors, municipal regulators and powerful customers. Therefore unity was needed to defend their position and privileges, but with ten unequal arts vying for control of the composite corporate body, how was such unity to be secured? The Edinburgh Incorporation of Mary’s Chapel looked to the models of the family and the household.Less
Masons, carpenters and glaziers were all needed to build a house, but in many cities such trades had separate companies. In Edinburgh, however, they banded together in a single incorporation to seek control of the labour market and defend their privileged position. Such issues were often contested by unfree competitors, municipal regulators and powerful customers. Therefore unity was needed to defend their position and privileges, but with ten unequal arts vying for control of the composite corporate body, how was such unity to be secured? The Edinburgh Incorporation of Mary’s Chapel looked to the models of the family and the household.
