Upavon, Wiltshire Beggars Bush 1809
An Assignment dated 25th September 1809 includes premises in Beggars Bush Fields and Chisenbury Hill (NA TS21/1259).
The name may be earlier. VCH says that Upavon “gradually lost the local prominence established in the 13th century by its church, priory, manor-house, and market. In the 16th century it was still described by Leland as a ‘good’ village . . .”
“It was described in 1591 as ‘somewhat low’ although by then its focal point was probably not the river but the market-place. Taxation assessments were higher than average but not the highest in Swanborough hundred, there were fewer cottages in the village, and the population had clearly declined from the level of 1397. . . “
“. . .More than a simple three- or four-field system prevailed in the 16th and 17th centuries. There were probably over 1,200 a. of arable and Barley Hill, Standcross, Beggars Bush, Slay, Loosecombe, Widdington, Hitch, and Ham fields and Hocombe bottom were all mentioned, although some were only topographical divisions of larger common fields.(1) Common meadows called Broad, Neton, Sheffords, Hay, and Dock meads were also named and there were some 120 a. of meadow in 1609. There were then stints for 4,365 sheep, a very high number compared with other parishes in Swanborough hundred. . . “
“Upavon was inclosed under an Act of Parliament in 1804. Manor and Widdington were the farms least affected by the redistribution of lands that took place. Manor farm was allotted almost 400 a. of Beggars Bush, Chisenbury, and Hocombe fields, virtually all the arable in the south-east of the parish”(2)
1. Ref Sta. Cha. 5/B/8/33
2. W.R.O., Inclosure Award.
See also Urchfont.
OS Grid
SU135555
Sources
Parishes: Upavon, A History of the County of Wiltshire: Volume 10 (1975), pp. 159-173.
Posted: April 23rd, 2011 | Filed under: Places | Tags: Upavon, Wiltshire | No Comments »
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