Leland’s observations are as follows. He saw, approaching Lechdale on crossing the Thames from Faringdon, “In ripa ulterori ... greate Enclosures of stone walls” (Vol. II. fol. 22). He turned into Wiltshire, and came from Bradford into the neighbourhood of Bath and East Somerset. Burton to South Cadbury, and thence to Sherborne, just over the Dorset boundary, was “fair and fruteful Champain” (fol. 47), but by another route back from Sherborne to South Cadbury “the Pastures and Fieldes be much enclosid with Hegge Rowes of Elmes”(fol. 50), and a little later he says that “most part of al Somertsetshire is yn hegge rows enclosid” with elms (fol. 55).
Some details are given later. Southtown to Midsummer Norton was “hilly and enclosid,” but Midsummer Norton to Wells “chaumpayne” (Vol. VIII. fol. 5), but thence south to Munney Delamere “hilly and enclosid” (fol. 7). Midsummer Norton to Mells (near Frome) was champayn (Vol. VIII. part 2, fol. 78 a). From Bath to Kelston (in Wilts) was champaine (fol. 67 b) and the triangular district between Bristol, Bath and Chipping Sodbury about half enclosed and half “champaine,” and also the district on the other side of the Bristol Avon towards Frome in Somerset, the immediate neighbourhood of Frome being open (Vol. VII., part 2, fol. 68–77).
Aulcester (in Warwick), to Evesham was “2 Miles by woody and inclosed ground, and then a mile by Ground lesse inclosed.... Thence 4 miles by cleane Champion” (Vol. IV. fol. 168 b), and the “champion Ground” continued for 6 or 7 miles to Stanwey, on the Cheltenham road.
North-west Worcester seems to have been generally enclosed. We have Bridgenorth (in Shropshire) to Kidderminster “mostly enclosed ground” (Vol. IV. fol. 182 b). Bewdley to Milton, Milton to Hertlebury, and hence to Worcester is all described as “enclosed Ground” (183 b and 184 a), and so also the country between Worcester and Bromsgrove (185 a and 186 b).