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AGRICULTURE.
The map of Roman Britain published by the Ordnance Survey gives a clear idea of the condition of this district in the first and following centuries of our era. The area of the parish is marked as well-wooded, and on the fringe of the still more densely timbered Wold country on the east. This low-lying land on the banks of the stream which flows through the parish, was at that time ill-drained, and marshy.
The first settlers had to clear the land of timber, and then to drain the waterlogged meadows. The Domesday Survey shews that in the time of Edward the Confessor about half the area of the parish was more or less reclaimed, and cleared for cultivation; and that within twenty years much more land was brought under the plough. It is not possible to say when the course of the brook on the north side of the parish was straightened; but it is manifest that this was done for the drainage of the low-lying land.
The agreements and indentures for the sale of lands, with their references to a considerable extent of heath, gorse, and sedge, shew that the complete reclamation of the land was long delayed. Gradually the whole parish was brought under cultivation, or made into pasture and meadow.
The usual system of cultivation was followed, which is called the open-field system. One of Mr. Falkner’s interesting notes in the register tells us that “In ye year 1737 ye Fields were alter’d from four fields into three fields.” It was the custom to leave each of these fields in turn fallow for a year.
It must not be thought that the whole of the parish was “open.” There were a number of enclosures around the homesteads, and others further afield. Thoroton tells us that Philip Pendock had made an extensive enclosure in the latter part of the 17th century, and implies that much of the parish was at that time enclosed. When we look at the area mentioned in the Enclosure Act of 1803 we see that by that date more than half the parish was enclosed. This Act speaks of many ancient enclosures made long prior to 1803.
We get some knowledge of the crops grown in past days from the field names. The Hoplands tell their own story, as do Pease Close, and the Barley Intake. We miss the common field name Flaxlands in this parish, but it is likely enough that flax growing had its day here as elsewhere. Old lawsuits remind us now and then of the more primitive methods of agriculture; when, e.g., the plough oxen of John Pendock are exempted from distraint. This case shews that oxen were used for ploughing in this parish as late as 1622, and probably they were used much later than this time.
The Enclosure doubtless removed many causes of friction between neighbours, and simplified industry; but it inevitably led to an extension of pasture at the expense of arable land, and so to a reduction in labourers. The ridge and furrow of our modern pastures shew that much land went out of cultivation then, and thereafter. The agriculturist of olden time did not escape the ravages of disease. The bitter experience of 1923, when a fine herd of milch cows was slaughtered under an order of the Board of Agriculture, has its parallel nearly two centuries ago when Mr. Falkner wrote his note “in ye year 1747 ye contagious Distemper amongst ye Horned Cattle raged in this Town and many Cows died.”
Fixed wages for labour is no novelty of the 20th century. In 1724 the Justices of the Peace for the County of Nottingham put forth the following scale of wages for this county :—
Head man servant, aged above 20 years, £5 (a year).
Second servant, aged above 20 years, £4.
A man servant, aged 16 and under 20, £3.
A maid servant, aged 20, £2.
A maid servant, aged 16 and under 20, £1 10s.
The day labourer’s wage was (excluding harvest time):— March 21st to Sept. 29th: 4d. with meat and drink, 8d. without. Sept. 29th to March 21st: 3d. with meat and drink, 6d. without. Haywork and Harvest: Mower, 8d. with meat and drink, 1/- without; Woman, 4d. with meat and drink, 8d. without; Haymakers, etc., Hooker, Pitcher, Driver, 6d. with meat and drink, l0d. without; Woman Haymaker, 3d. with, and 6d. without meat and drink.
Tollerton lordship has ever been reputed to be one of the richest in south Nottinghamshire. The statistics given below fully justify this repute.
On October 29th, 1795, the King’s Speech at the opening of Parliament referred to the distress and suffering caused by “the very high price of grain” and expressed the fear “that the produce of the wheat harvest in the present year may not have been such as effectually to relieve my people.” This led to a demand for a Return of yields of the various crops. A Report giving “An Account of the Quantities of Corn produced in the South Division of Bingham Hundred in the years 1794 and 1795 ” followed.
| Wheat. | Barley. | Oats. | Beans. | Al. | |||
| Tollerton | Qrs. | 291 | 261 | 84 | 81 | ||
| 316 | 387 | 112 | 243 | ||||
| Holme Perripont (sic) | " | 33 | 220 | 28 | |||
| 24 | 254 | 110 | |||||
| Cropwell Bishop | " | 411 | 65 | 97 | 90 | ||
| 366 | 106 | 59 | 333 | ||||
| Colston Bassett | " | 487 | 318 | 222 | 21 | ||
| 362 | 572 | 304 | 130 | ||||
| Newton | " | 186 | 420 | 160 | 39 | ||
| 198 | 455 | 80 | 75 | ||||
| Saxondale | " | 165 | 300 | 170 | 12 | ||
| 180 | 265 | 165 | |||||
| Shelford | " | 459 | 750 | 500 | 12 | 30 | |
| Clipston | " | 184 | 36 | 0 | 76 | ||
| " | 70 | 64 | 110 | 115 | |||
| Tythby | " | 123 | 196 | 54 | 28 | ||
| " | 151 | 236 | 55 | 23 | |||
| Bassingfield | " | 179 | 350 | 18 | 32 | ||
| " | 150 | 432 | 182 | 26 | |||
| Owethorpe | " | 250 | 55 | 240 | 50 | ||
| " | 172 | 147 | 232 | 30 | |||
| Cropwell Butler | " | 434 | 612 | 426 | 55 | ||
| " | 411 | 680 | 590 | 83 | |||
| Cotgrave | " | 729 | 679 | 426 | 140 | ||
| " | 741 | 839 | 448 | 226 |
It will be observed that while the wheat crops varied but slightly, the yield of barley, oats, and beans in 1795, was greatly in excess of that in 1794.
THE ENCLOSURE.
An Act was passed, 43 Geo. Ill (1802-3), “for dividing allotting and inclosing the open and common ffields Meadows, Commonable Lands and waste grounds within the Manor and parish of Tollerton in the County of Nottingham.”
The parties interested in these lands were “Pendock Neale, Esq., Pendock Barry Neale, Esq., son and heir apparent of the said P.N., and the Revd. Pendock Neale, Rector, of the Rectory of Tollerton.”
The Commissioners appointed by the Act were James Green of Lenton Abbey and John Farmer of Burton in the Beans, Leicestershire.
The Survey was made by John Bailey of Nottingham and John Brown of Elston, Notts., and two plans were made as this Act required, one being annexed to the Award.
The Commissioners report that the lands intended to be divided, allotted and enclosed “contain in the whole by statute measure 435a., 3r., 20p. or thereabouts, that Pendock Neale, Esq. is lord of the Manor, intitled to the right of soil of and in the waste lands within the Manor, and is Patron of the Rectory . . . that Pendock Neale (clerk) is Rector . . . and entitled to all the tithes . . . great and small . . . issuing from all the lands and Grounds” (to be enclosed and enclosed) “within the parish of Tollerton . . . liable to the payment of Tythes . . . and that Pendock Neale, Esq., Pendock Neale, clerk as rector, and the Churchwardens are the present owners and proprietors of the said open fields (etc.) intended by the Act to be divided allotted and enclosed.” The Award made was as follows:—
The roads “public and private” are first dealt with, and allotted : —
Gamston and Nottingham Road. “A carriage road” of the breadth of 40ft. “from the N. end of the Town of Tollerton in a Northward direction over the Mill Field, and Gorse field along the ancient tract of the said Old Road to a Lane called Gamstone Lane.
Cotgrave Road. “A Carriage road,” breadth 33ft. “From the Town Street, commencing near a house in the occupation of George Woodward, extending Eastward into and over certain ancient inclosures, the Homestead, the Moat Close in the occupation of Thos. Thurman, the Kirk Close in the occupation of Thos. Baldock. Thence across the Brook over which a bridge is or is intended to be erected, over the old Inclosures Coachgate piece in the possession of P.N. Esq., the Moor Close and the Rough Close in occupation of Thos. Baldock, Little Rough Close and Great Rough Close in the occupation of Thos. Dodson, and Great Pease Hill Close late in the occupation of Thos. Barlow to a gate leading into the Lordship of Plumptree, being the public carriage road from Tollerton to Clipston and Cotgrave. In lieu of the late ancient Public Carriage road from Tollerton to Cotgrave . . . stopped up and discontinued by the order of the Revd. Thos. Donnithorne and Thos. Maltby Esq. . . . Justices of the Peace.
Private Carriage Road. Breadth 27ft. from the N. end of Gamston and Nottm. Road in a westwardly direction over the Gorse Field on the N. side thereof and adjoining to the Lordship of Gamston to an allotment in the Chesselmore field No. 8 in the Map mentioned herein awarded to the Rector . . . which road is set out for use and occupation of the Rector and the owners and occupiers of the above allotment.
Private Carriage Road. Breadth 20ft. from a lane in the Town of T. called Mill Lane in a westward direction over the Mill Field and Chesselmore field in the same track as the public Bridle road to Edwalton to an allotment in Chesselmore field allotted to the Rector for the use of P. N. Esq. the Rector and owners and occupiers of such allotment for the time being.
Bridle Road. Public. Breadth 10ft. 6in. A lane called Mill Lane in W. direction over the Mill field and Chesselmore field and thence Southwardly to a Bridle gate road leading into the Lord- ship of Edwalton.
Bridle Road to Bassingfield. Breadth 10ft., from the Gamston Road Eastwardly over an allotment in Gorse Field alongside the boundary hedges between “the parish of Tollerton and the liberties of Gamstone and Bassingfield to an ancient gate or gate place leading into the liberty of Basingfield.”
Footpath to Cotgrave—across Mill field, “ancient enclosure Stall Bridge Close” No. 28 in the Map.
Footpath to West Bridgford and Nottingham—beginning at N. end in a W and NW direction over Mill Field “to an ancient foot stile called Tinker’s Stile, thence over Gorse field to an ancient stile leading into the liberty of Gamstone.”
Footpath to Edwalton—branching from Edwalton Bridle Road “near the windmill over Mill Field to an ancient inclosure called Mill Close, No. 72 on the Map.”
Ancient inclosures allotted to Rector in lieu of Glebe, and common rights attached, 59ac. lr. 17p.
| ac. | r. | p. | ||
| Bell Plat (No. 70) “all that Southernmost close called,”) late in occupation of Robt. Barlow | 3 | 3 | 36 | |
| Bell Plat, Nether (No. 71) same occupation | 2 | 3 | 3 | |
| Long Close (No. 110) “nethermost part of” same occupier | 4 | 1 | 28 | |
| Mill Plat (No. 73) in occupation of Rector | 8 | 0 | 0 | |
| Middle Land Close (No. 77) in occupation of Thos. Thurman | 4 | 2 | 18 | |
| Far Land Close (No. 78) same occupation | 4 | 0 | 10 | |
| Far Gibs Close (No. 79) in occupation of Thos. Baldock | 6 | 2 | 19 | |
| Middle Gibs Close (No. 80) same occupation | 6 | 2 | 20 | |
| Near Gibs Close (No. 81) same occupation | 5 | 1 | 33 | |
| Rushy Gibs Close (No. 84) same occupation | 4 | 1 | 0 | |
| Little Plat Close (No. 114) in occupation of Rector | 3 | 2 | 21 | |
| Near Little Close (No. 115) same occupation | 4 | 3 | 29 |
“The following closes or parcels of ancient inclosed Glebe lands in Tollerton . . allotted to Pendock Neale Esq for the land of equal value,”
Thurbeck Meadow (No. 3) “ part of ancient enclosure called,” Meadow Closes, two (Nos. 15, 16).
One fifth of five closes (Nos. 19-23) called Pasture Closes.
Fennel Close, south part of, (No. 16).
Allotments to Rector in lieu of Tythes—
Chesselmore Field (No. 8) containing 114ac. lr. 26p., bounded W. and N. by Edwalton, W. Bridgford and Gamston and E. by P. N. Esqr’s. lands (Nos. 3, 5, 9 and 7) and S. by same allotments (Nos. 5 and 9) and by ancient enclosures in Tollerton.
Further allotments to Rector of lands (by way of exchange or part compensation for Tythes), formerly belonging to P. N. Esq.,
| ac. | r. | p. | ||
| Near Land Close (No. 76) in occupation of Thos. Thurman | 8 | 2 | 0 | |
| Bush Plat (No. 88) in occupation of Robt. Barlow | 10 | 2 | 17 | |
| Rushy Gibs Close (No. 85) same occupation | 1 | 3 | 8 | |
| High Close (No. 86) same occupation | 5 | 1 | 22 |
All these containing 140ac. 2r. 33p. are allotted as equal to one-fifth part of the unenclosed open fields kept in tillage and two- seventeenths of all the Homestead Meadows, pastures, etc., liable to tythes in kind.
This composition to have force after 25th March, 1804.
The allotments to Pendock Neale, Esqr., and his heirs, as lord of manor:—
| ac. | r. | p. | ||
| Story Green Common (No. 2) bounded on E. by Nottingham Road | 0 | 0 | 37 | |
| Allotments as proprietor of the Lands: Gorse Field and Mill Field (parts of) adjoining No. 1 | 195 | 2 | 4 | |
| Gorse Field, part of (No. 3) | 29 | 3 | 8 | |
| Mill Field (No. 5) | 62 | 0 | 16 | |
| Mill Field (No. 6) | 14 | 3 | 8 | |
| Chesselmore Field (No. 7) | 10 | 0 | 18 | |
| Chesselmore Field (No. 9) | 6 | 0 | 17 |
An exchange between the squire and rector, with due consents, was made—the following “ancient glebe enclosures being awarded to the squire”:—
“All that garden or parcel of ground adjoining the churchyard (No. 120) containing Oac. Or. 36p. and now in the possession of P. N. Esq. Also all that piece of old inclosed ground adjoining the said garden being the other part of the Rectory orchard (No. 123) containing Oac. 3r. 28p. and now in the possession of P. N. Esq. Also that piece of old enclosed ground called The Shoulder of Mutton Close (No. 125) containing Oac. 3r. 35p. in the possession of P. N. Esq. Also the undivided part of old enclosure (No. 3) called Thurbeck Meadow containing lac. Or. Op. in occupation of Sarah Hickling. Also that close called The Meadow (No. 15) containing 6ac. Or. 32p. in occupation of the Rector, and Meadow Close (No. 16) containing 7ac. Or. 13p. in occupation of Rector. Also one-fifth of undivided part of Pasture Closes (Nos. 19 to 23) containing 7ac. 2r. 23p. Also S. part of Fennel Close (No. 116) containing Oac. 3r. 33p. in occupation of Rector.
“And we allot in exchange unto Pendock Neale, Esq., and his heirs by and with the consent of the Churchwardens all that cottage and garden (No. 48) containing 0ac. lr. 24p. in occupation of Rd. Cooper the Close called Church Close (No. 136) containing lac. 2r. 34p. in occupation of Sami. Garton.
“The total allotted to the squire is 343ac. lr. 30p.—And also as a compensation for all those ancient inclosures and parts of inclosures... given in exchange for other land ... all those two closes called the Near Intake and Far Intake adjoining the one to the other, Nos. 74 and 75, containing 15ac. Or. 13p. in the possession of the Rector part of an Ancient Inclosure called the Bell Platt (No. 70). Also a close Nether Bell Platt (No. 71) a close Mill Platt (No. 75) a close near Gibs Close (No. 81) a close Middle Gibs Close (No. 80) a close Far Gibs Close (No. 79) a close Rushy Gibs Close (No. 84) Far Sand Close (No. 78) Middle Sand Close (No. 77) Near Sand Close (No. 76) Little Plat Close
((No. 114) Near Plat Close (No. 115) Bushy Plat Close (No. 88) Rushy Gibs Close part (No. 85) High Close part (No. 86)—“All which are herein awarded to the Rector.”
One other ancient inclosure called Nether Longlands Close (No. 103) awarded in exchange to the Churchwardens of T. containing 2ac. 3r. 24p. in occupation of Willm. Thurman. This in compensation for the cottage and garden (No. 48) and Church Close (No. 136).
Assents given by P. N. Esqr., P. B. N. Esqr., Abp. of York and P. N., Rector, 15 Ap. 46 Geo. 3, A.D. 1806.
Oaths by Green and Farmer, 17 May, 1803.
Enrolled with Mr. Green, Clerk of Peace and signed by him 1 Jany. 1814.