Judi’s research throws light on village families in 19th century
MID Devon villagers are studying maps of their parishes and researching the histories of families who lived there in the 19th century.
A talk entitled A Detailed Look at the 1841 Kennerleigh Tithe Map: field names and families' was enjoyed by around 30 people at a gathering in the village hall.
Resident Judi Binks had produced an annotated version of the original map by adding all the original field names and researching the family history of people living there at the time. A future presentation will follow more closely the fate and fortunes of these residents from 175 years ago, using local newspaper notices, recollections and diaries.
Most of the village field names were descriptive, but often lost to the modern world, Mrs Binks said. Fascinating examples are Glitter Field and Glitter Bottom, Coney Field, Journey and Purry, but thanks to locals in the audience, light was shed on those terms; glow worms in the hedges accounted for 'glitter', rabbits being the derivation of 'coney' and the pear cider perry possibly producing the name of Purry field. 'Journey' is so named because it took one day's journey to collect the crops from the field.
Most of the surveying and mapping was carried out by 1839 by local Crediton firm of Warren, Luckraft, Reaney & Warren.
The Tithe Commissioners assessed the tithe equivalent value of Kennerleigh at £95 a year, based on a formula of the average price of wheat barley and oats over a seven-year period.
In 1839, the area of Kennerleigh parish was 627 acres: of which, arable land was 384 acres; pasture was 73 acres; woodland 84 acres; moorland and furze 70 acres and 16 acres of orchards.
Sir Stafford Northcote owned almost all the land. But the Rev John Hole owned Creedy Mill and Kennerleigh, with Kennerleigh Woods. Farms such as Upton, Langham, Staple Green, Woodbear and Leycotte were leased to tenant farmers William Snow, William Squire, Isaac and James Brown, John Elworthy, James Lang and William Daw.
Delves Cottage, now known as Virginia Cottage, was a public house called the Hare and Hounds.
The population was 94 in 1801 and dropped to 80 by 1901, whereas the 1841 Census shows 118 people and a total of 20 dwellings, some of which accommodating more than one household such as farm servants living in the outbuildings of a farm.
Notable exceptions to the map were the Rectory and Manor Farm which were not built until 1842.
Judi has now embarked on a similar project with the 1841 Tithe maps for Washford Pyne and Woolfardisworthy East and is keen to for local parishioners to participate in the work.
The best part of the proceedings was the general conversation and discussion which continued well into the evening. It's just what Judi wanted as she was able to offer up the bare bones of the map for the members of the audience to add their local wisdom and knowledge. Judi is very grateful for all the help she received from Adrian and Julia Miller and Brian and Margaret Baker and from all the contributors on the night.
Future talks by Judi include The impact of First World War on Women and Farming in Devon, at Newton St Cyres on April 8, and The Correspondence of St Boniface and the role of Women at Kennerleigh in May.
Read more: http://www.middevongazette.co.uk/fields-came-names-like-Glitter/story-20696991-detail/story.html#ixzz3PPXNsvta
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