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Page 29:-
Several years after, Ralf de Graystock, lord of the
manor of Gowbarrow, exchanged with them for certain lands in
the manor of Thackthwaite; these they divided in the same
manner as the others, and consequently each had one field
called Croft, another called Ings, &c. These in process
of time were laid together into common fields, and are the
only common land in this manor. These lands likewise differ
from the adjacent land, by paying a greater lord's
rent, and their freedom from certain customs which the
others perform. These are, the tenants of the rest of the
barony of Graystock are bound to repair the mill-race and
mill; and, in case it be required, to rebuild the mill at
their own expence, the mill-stones excepted: the inhabitants
of Thackthwaite are exempted from all this, except the
repairing of the mill-race, which they are to do upon being
required by the miller, and for which they are to receive a
pot of ale, and a pennyworth of tobacco. An old inquisition
in my possession specifies, that the pot shall contain eight
standard quarts, so that probably this custom took its rise
during the time these counties were in possession of the
Scots.
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Gowbarrow Park
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Before we leave Gowbarrow Park, (for the bounds of which see
the Plan,) it may not be amiss to mention some particulars
of its history. This Park was one of the forests proclaimed
by William Rufus, and is now the property of the Right
Honourable Charles Howard, Earl of Surrey *, of whose
illustrious family and titles I shall inform my readers more
at large hereafter.
The lower part of Gowbarrow was formerly meer'd out
of the tenants of the manor of Water-Millock, who were to
have as much of the produce as they could take with scythe,
together with hay bounds, fern bounds, green hue, &c.
These they lost in a law-suit with the lord, into which they
were inadvertently drawn; for the whole of the tenants of
the barony of Graystock quarrelling with their lord about
some of their privileges, instituted a joint suit against
him: in this complaint, it was set forth, that they had all
enjoyed these privileges time out of mind, (which in fact
none but the tenants of Water-Millock ever possessed.) The
Attorney having made the complaint general, the whole were
nonsuited, and in consequence thereof the tenants of
Water-Millock lost their undoubted rights.
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vermin
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Another custom, (likewise lost,) was, that the Bailiff
should keep dogs for the hunting and destroying of foxes and
other vermin which infest this neighbourhood, and for which
he received 40 quarts of tolerable, (though not the best)
oats, from every tenement, under the title of Forester's
Corn. At last the Bailiff refused to keep the dogs, and the
tenants upon this refused to pay the corn: in consequence of
these disputes the agent for the lord came in person and
demanded it, when some of the tenants instantly paid it; but
others, alleging that the corn was merely an hire paid to
the Bailiff for destroying noxious vermin, positively
refused, and during their lives paid none: Their heirs,
however, either in order to renew their leases upon easier
terms, or by some other persuasions, consented to pay it,
(one single tenement excepted,) and the lord now receives
it.
We may naturally suppose, that in consequence of no dogs
being kept, the vermin would multiply very fast: this they
did to that degree, that one man, out of thirty-two lambs
lost fourteen, and many others suffered proportional losses.
Upon these repeated damages, the inhabitants called a vestry
meeting, that they might consult for immediate remedying
this evil. Some were of opinion, that an action should be
brought against the lord to compel him to keep the hounds,
as he received the corn paid for that purpose: but the more
general opinion was, that since damages were every night
done, and immediate relief must be had, it was better to
hire men to destroy the vermin, than risque the precarious
issue of a tedious and expensive suit at law. They thereupon
raised a sum by way of cess for that purpose, and appointed
the following rewards, (which are still paid) for the
destruction of these noxious animals.
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To
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* Now Duke of Norfolk.
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gazetteer links
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-- "Gowbarrow Park" -- Gowbarrow Park
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-- (mill, Greystoke)
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-- "Thackthwaite" -- Thackthwaite
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