The Impact of the English Civil War on the Economy of London, 1642-50

This text examines every sector of London's economy as it changed during the English Civil War. When the war broke out, London's economy was diverse and dynamic, closely connected through commercial networks with the rest of England and with Europe, Asia and North America. As such, it was vulnerable to hostile acts by supporters of the king, both those at large in the country and those within the capital. The book also looks closely at the impact of war on the major pillars of the London economy, namely London's role in external and internal trade, and manufacturing in London. The Civil War caused a major economic crisis in the capital, not only because of the interrelationship between its economy and that of the rest of England, but also because of its function as the hub of the social and economic networks of the kingdom and of the rest of the world. The crisis was managed, however, and one of the strengths of this study is its revelation of the means by which the city's government sought to understand and ameliorate the unique economic circumstances which afflicted it.