The English Village Community / Examined in its Relations to the Manorial and Tribal Systems and to the Common or Open Field System of Husbandry; An Essay in Economic History (Reprinted from the Fourth Edition)

by Frederic Seebohm

'The jurors for our Lord the King and the Homage of this Court having diligently enquired into the boundaries, extent, rights, jurisdictions, and customs of the said manor, and the rights, powers, and duties of the lord and tenants thereof, and having also enquired what lands in the township of Hitchin and in the hamlet of Walsworth respectively within this manor are subject to common of pasture for the commonable cattle of the occupiers of messuages, cottages, and land within the said township and hamlet respectively, and for what descriptions and number of cattle, and at what times of the year and in what manner such rights of common are by the custom of this manor to be exercised, and what payments are by such custom due in respect thereof, they do upon their oaths find and present as follows:—

'That the manor comprises the township of Hitchin and the hamlet of Walsworth, in the parish of Hitchin, the [p444] lesser manors of the Rectory of Hitchin, of Moremead, otherwise Charlton, and of the Priory of the Biggin, being comprehended within the boundaries of the said manor of Hitchin, which also extends into the hamlets of Langley and Preston in the said parish of Hitchin, and into the parishes of Ickleford, Ippollitts, Kimpton, Kingswalden, and Offley.

Boundaries.

'That the following are the boundaries of the township of Hitchin with the hamlet of Walsworth (that is to say), beginning at Orton Head, proceeding from thence to Burford Ray, and from thence to a water mill called Hide Mill, and from thence to Wilberry Hills; from thence to a place called Bossendell, from thence to a water mill called Purwell Mill, and from thence to a brook or river called Ippollitts' Brook, and from thence to Maydencroft Lane, and from thence to a place called Wellhead, and from thence to a place called Stubborn Bush, and from thence to a place called Offley Cross, and from thence to Five Borough Hills, and from thence back to Orton Head, where the boundaries commenced. And that all the land in the parish of Hitchin lying on the north side of the river which runneth from Purwell Mill to Hide Mill is within the hamlet of Walsworth, and that the following lands on the south side of the same river are also within the same hamlet of Walsworth (vizt.), Walsworth Common, containing about fourteen acres; the land of Sir Francis Sykes called the Leys, on the south side of Walsworth Common, containing about four acres; the land of William Lucas and Joseph Lucas, called the Hills, containing about two acres; and nine acres or thereabouts, part of the land of Sir Francis Sykes, called the Shadwells, the residue of the land called the Shadwells on the north side of the river.

Jurisdiction.

'That the lord of the manor of Hitchin hath Court Leet View of Frank pledge and Court Baron, and that the jurisdiction of the Court Leet and View of Frank pledge extendeth over the whole of the township of Hitchin and the hamlet of Walsworth. That a Court Leet and Court of the View of Frank pledge and Great Court Baron are accustomed to be holden for the said manor within one month [p445] after the Feast of Saint Michael the Archangel in every year, and may also be holden within one month after the Feast of Easter. And that general or special Courts Baron and customary Courts are holden at the pleasure of the lord or of his steward.

'That in the Court Leet yearly holden after the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel the jurors for our Lord the King are accustomed to elect and present to the lord two constables and six headboroughs (vizt.), two headboroughs for Bancroft Ward, two for Bridge Ward, and two for Tilehouse Street Ward (each such constable and headborough having right and being bound to execute the office through the whole leet), and likewise two ale conners, two leather searchers and sealers, and a bellman who is also the watchman and cryer of the town. And they present that Bancroft Ward contains Bancroft Street, including the Swan Inn, Silver Street, Portmill Lane, and the churchyard, church and vicarage house, and the alley leading out of Bancroft now called Quaker's Alley. That Bridge Ward contains the east and north sides of the market place, and part of the south side thereof to the house of John Whitney, formerly called the Maidenhead Inn, Mary's Street, otherwise Angel Street, now called Sun Street, Bull Street, now called Bridge Street, to the river; Bull Corner, Back Street, otherwise Dead Street, from the south to the north extremities thereof; Biggin Lane with the Biggin and Hollow Lane. And that Tilehouse Street Ward contains Tilehouse Street, Bucklersbury to the Swan Inn, and the west side and the remainder of the south side of the market place.

PRESENTMENTS OF THE HOMAGE.

Reliefs.

'And the Homage of this Court do also further present that freeholders holding of the said manor do pay to the lord by way of relief upon the death of the preceding tenant one year's quitrent, but that nothing is due to the lord upon the alienation of freehold.