Medieval References to Common Land

There were many common land disputes in medieval times, here are two examples from the Lancashire Assize Rolls, which can be seen translated here.

Lancashire Assize Rolls

In the time of  Henry III, Alice de(of) Liverseg (now Liversedge) won cases related to common land in Hundersfield (a township of Rochdale parish).

Who was Alice?

Alice was the daughter of Robert of Liversedge a co-owner of the Manor of Whitworth, but where were they based? Liversedge is in West Yorkshire. So here we have someone based inYorkshire, holding part of the manor of Whitworth, in  Rochdale’s Spotland township also holding land in the adjacent township of Hundersfield also in Rochdale.

This shows how complex the landholding was in Rochdale, even at this time.

Coucher Book of Whalley Abbey

References to common land often used the term “communi pastura” and example is shown below, which refers to common land near Withens (Harewyhnes) Bagden (recorded as Bikeden), between Whitworth and the area today known as Rooley Moor.

Under construction…

This post will outline references to common land, and related legal disputes.

Published in: on June 3, 2011 at 12:04 pm  Comments (3)  
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3 CommentsLeave a comment

  1. On February 17, 2015 at 1:50 pm Eddie Mellor said:

    your getting closer stuart

    Eddie mellor

    Reply
    • On February 19, 2015 at 9:06 pm Stuart said:

      When will you be ready with your research Eddie?

      Reply
    • On March 28, 2015 at 9:26 pm Stuart said:

      When will you get close enough to publish?

      Reply

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