Here again we were obliged to look to Scotland for further light upon the customs of an English county, but in this case we cannot attribute the resemblance between the customs of Norfolk and the east of Scotland to a common Celtic influence. The hypothesis would be a difficult one, and a different explanation presents itself.
Seebohm points out that the ancient characteristic agriculture of Westphalia, East Friesland, Oldenburg, North Hanover, Holland, Belgium, Denmark, Brunswick, Saxony and East Prussia, a vast area comprising all districts from which the Anglo-Saxon conquerors of Britain are believed by any historians to have come, is that known among German scholars as “Einfeldwirthschaft,” the “one field system.” Crops, usually of rye and buckwheat, are continually grown year after year, in the strips in the open fields, the fertility being maintained by marling and the application of peat manure.[91]
- [91] “The English Village Community,” p. 372.
It is therefore natural to attribute the whole year or every year lands of Norfolk, and the infields of Scotland, alike, to the influence of Saxon, Anglian or Danish conquest and settlement. If it is asked why the same agricultural feature was not more widely produced, the obvious answer is that when people of different races are mixed together in the occupation of the same villages, it is by no means certain that the agricultural customs which will afterwards prevail will be those of the conquerors, or of the race which is in the majority. The customs of the first occupiers had been modified by the environment, and had to some extent modified the environment, till something like harmony was created. After a conquest by another race, if any of the conquered race remain, the easiest course is to continue the existing mode of husbandry. It is more likely that the customs of the conquered race should remain as the basis of the future practice, though altered to some extent in form and more in spirit, than that the previous customs of the conquerors, which they had followed in other circumstances on a different soil and amidst other surroundings, should be imposed on the conquered people.
The following are the Acts for places outside Norfolk which specify the existence of Whole Year lands, Every Year lands, or Infields.
1740, c. 19. Gunnerton, Northumberland. This Act is to enclose 1300 acres of Ingrounds, and 1000 acres of Outgrounds.
1752, c. 27. Enclosing Wytham on the Hill, Infield, Lincolnshire.
1761, c. 32. Enclosing Norham Infields. Norham was nominally in Durham, but it is on the Scottish border.
1807, c. 18. Herringswell, Suffolk. “Divers old inclosed meadow and pasture grounds, and old inclosed whole year or every year arable lands, open or common fields, half year or shack lands, common meadows, heaths, warrens, fens, commons, and waste grounds.”