Reference
W2864
Title
Survey of Elstow
Date free text
1794
Production date
From: 1794 To: 1794
Scope and Content
"Field book of Elstow parish by J. Lilburne"; quarto volume, lacking cover, 27 ff. paper;
gives tenant's name, description of house, rent, "number and mark", and "number on L. plan".
1794.
Note f. 15 the Miss Hillersdons are living at the Lodge;
f. 121 "Green House in good repair, and toll of fairs, £15"
Note: this appears to be a survey made by Lilburne for Samuel Whitbread, shortly after the latter's purchase of the manor,
and in the middle of his purchase of small properties in Elstow, probably with a view to the parliamentary enclosure of Elstow,
which took place in 1800. For Plan see W2/29.
The "number and mark" are those of an earlier survey and plan by John Franklin in 1767, done for Denis Farrer Hillersdon,
apparently for the purpose of carrying out a private enclosure among his tenants.
This survey and plan (X1/6/1-2) (the map bears a date, but the survey obviously accompanying it does not) show that
practically all the land belongs to Hillersdon, and almost all the land is in strips.
A second survey and plan (X1/6/3-4) (in this case the survey bears the date and the map does not) were made in the same year.
This plan, (which is smaller than X1/6/1) shows:
a) Hillersdon's land enclosed
b) Hillersdon's tenants' land consolidated within the framework of the open fields
(but not to the extent of one whole farm being together);
c) other proprietor's holdings, all small, still hold strips;
the accompanying survey shows that Hillersdon's tenants are identical with X1/6/2, but there is slight variation in the size of
their holdings, due to the rearrangement of their land on the abandonment by them of the strip system.
X1/6/1 - 4 were received at the office sometime before 1922, i.e. before the beginning of a proper accessions register;
thus it is possible that they were brought in by the late Mr. S.H. Whitbread; but their source is not known.
However all 5 documents (X1/6/1 - 4 and W2864) should be studied together, and also with the Elstow enclosure award.
They seem to show that Hillersdon carried out a large measure of private enclosure in his own land and that of his tenants in 1767,
i.e. in the greater part of the parish; and Whitbread completed the process with parliamentary enclosure (largely nominal) in 1800
Reference
Level of description
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