Louis James Henry

About me

Louis Henry is a PhD Candidate at the Greenhouse Research Center for Environmental Humanities, being supervised by Dolly Jørgensen. His research interests revolve around the intersection of power, law, and the environment in the medieval world.

My research

His research is on waste management and sanitation in late medieval England, exploring how waste and its management influenced and was influenced by local government structures. Through an investigation of four fenland towns—Ely, Peterborough, Ramsey, and Wisbech—he seeks to examine how waste acted as a motivator and supporter of local officeholding and monastic and episcopal lordship, from c.1300-1550. 'Waste' in this context refers to dungheaps, butchery and agricultural waste, and construction debris, but his research extends to water management and the provision of public health as the management of waste often intersects with these pressing issues. In doing this, he hopes to shed further light on responsibilities, expectations, and levels of accountability with regards to managing and regulating the urban environment. Prior to starting this PhD, he completed an MPhil in Medieval History which focused on waste management in late medieval Peterborough.

 

Academic background

MPhil in Medieval History, University of Cambridge, 2023-2024

BA (Hons) History, University of Cambridge, 2020-2023