AD1973

Souldrop enclosure award (original); no map.

15 Jan 1771

From: 1771 To: 1771

Original Deed poll Award on parchment signed, sealed and stamped acknowledged by John Watts, one of the Commissioners at Oxford (16 Jan 1771) before William Ward, a Master Extraordinary in Chancery. Indorsed as sealed and delivered by the Commissioners in the presence of Richard Tee of Brackley (Northants.) and James Crowdy, clerk to William Ward; and with inscription recording its inrolment. 4 skins with a fifth smaller skin containing a schedule and (sewn on as attachments) oaths to act fairly and impartially subscribed by John Watts and Laurence Cumberland, qualitymen appointed by the Commissioners, 5 Jan 1770, witnessed by John Gibberd; and the Commissioners’ oaths, April-May 1770. Commissioners: Francis Burton of Aynhoe, Rev. John Gibberd of Sharnbrook, John Wells of Sulgrave Northants. Surveyor Robert Weston. From the preamble 'Whereas ther are lying and being within the manor and parish of Souldrop in the County of Bedford certain large open and common fields commonly called or known by the several names of Ground Hill [?] field, Middle Field and Town End Field which consist of and are reputed to contain 350 acres or thereabouts and a large piece or parcel of waste ground known or distinguished by the name of Souldrop Would containing by estimation 15 acres or thereabouts...' 500 acres altogether. The Act makes no provision for the drawing up of a plan to accompany the survey commissioned as part of the process of inclosure and the presumption therefore is that none was made.

Formerly part of the Russell estate archives and given the reference R bun 3 no.29. [R Box 831 contains a paper copy of the Award (21 pp.) bound up in book form undated, c.1774. Presumed to have been compiled from the original at the time of the acquisition of an estate at Souldrop and Knotting by the Russell family. Includes some pencilled jottings. Includes (enclosed) letter dated 8 Sep 1883 from the Estate Office to F.S.H.Judd at Souldrop covering despatch of this copy of the Award on loan. Mentions deposit of the Award with the Clerk of the Peace (Award82) ‘with a plan attached’ [sic].]

item

Watts, John,
Cumberland, Laurence,
Gibberd, John,
Burton, Francis,
Wells, John,
Weston, Robert

ENCLOSURE, SOULDROP, parliamentary enclosure, field names