SECTIONAL TRANSACTIONS.—E. 405 
Wednesday, September 11. 
Dr. R. E. Dicxinson.—The development and distribution of the medieval 
urban grid plan (9.30). 
In the Middle Ages the urban grid plan developed simultaneously and 
independently in two principal areas, South France and Germany. It 
emerged gradually and reached perfected form in the middle of the thirteenth 
century. Its development is reflected in a morphological sequence of plans. 
1. Radio-concentric plans, built round a nucleus. 
2. Route plans (main route axis of plan). 
(a) Rib and ladder patterns (N.B. South Germany). 
(6) Parallel street patterns. 
(c) Spindle and meridian patterns (N.B. spindle pattern and long 
market place of Silesia). 
3. Grid plans. 
(a) Carrefour patterns—spontaneous growth on two co-ordinates. 
(6) Block grouping without architectonic unity. 
(c) Block patterns based on right-angle co-ordinates. 
(d) Unified block patterns grouped around central market block. 
SouTH FRANCE. 
The rectangular lot found in ‘ sauvetats ’ of eleventh and twelfth centuries 
(1 and 2a). Foundation of ‘ bastides ’ as means of defence and political 
allegiance (1150-1350). Region extends to Pyrenees, Dordogne R., and 
Central Massif. Mixed plans, but dominance of rectangular block com- 
position. All types, 2c rare. 
GERMANY. 
The grid developed with evolution of market place (main street, widened 
street, adjacent long rectangular market, central market square of ‘ Zentral- 
anlage’). Regular patterns (Neustiadte) established adjacent to irregular 
town patterns (Altstadte) in West Germany. Expansion beyond Elbe-Saale 
(1150-1400) where regular plans (Kolonialstadte) dominate. Spread east 
of 3d with German commercial settlement, e.g. Breslau, Cracow, Lemberg, 
Posen. 
Mr. T. W. Freeman.—The early settlement of Glamorgan (10.15). 
The study of early settlement in Glamorgan reveals the significance of 
the space relations and the physical environment of the time. The region 
was reached by people of varied cultures from Palzolithic times, but not 
intensively occupied. Sporadic infiltrations of people from the English 
Lowland and from the sea routes occurred and, though the colonisation 
was both late and scanty, favoured areas received many immigrants during 
the Bronze Age. 
The chief regional division is between the Highland (the ‘ Blaenau 
Morganwg’) and the areas of ‘lowland,’ which include the ‘ Bro’ of 
Glamorgan, the Gower peninsula, stretches of unstable sand-dunes in 
Merthyr mawr Warren and Kenfig Burrows, and the coastal fringe of 
marshes guarded by sand-dunes between the Kenfig and Tawe rivers. 
The earliest traces of settlement occur in Gower ; other coastal areas, 
such as Merthyr mawr Warren, were occupied from Neolithic times and 
with the entry of the Dolmen builders and the Beaker peoples favoured 
