James Davis’s main research interests focus upon medieval social and economic history, particularly English markets, trades and towns.

He has examined the market culture of medieval England through a variety of literary and legal sources and published Medieval Market Morality: Life, Law and Ethics in the English Marketplace, 1200-1500 with Cambridge University Press in 2012.

His most recent project is on the subject of Medieval Street Life and was supported by a British Academy Mid-Career Fellowship.