Page:History and characteristics of Bishop Auckland.djvu/29

 12 HISTORY OF BISHOP AUCKLAND. CHAPTER IIL Such were the times and such the disturbed state of this neighbourhood when Bishop Hatfield came to the See^ though some years previous to this (during Beck's time) not only the Bishops, but the whole of the inhabitants of the Palatinate had the privilege of being exempt fix>m military service out of the boundaries of the bishopric beyond the Tees and Tyna They were called " Holywerke folkes/' bound to nothing but holy work, and to defend the body of St Cuthbert Edward L is said to have abridged them of this, as well as many other liberties. But we are digressing and losing sight of the history of our town. We now come to another of those important documents, in which the archives of Durham are so rich, and which form such a fertile source of information and instruction in the manners and customs of bygone days, and such a precious mine of materials for history. Bishop Hatfield's survey, taken in the year 1377, forms a valuable supplement to the Boldon Buke, as shewing the difference in the value of several estates, which are included in them both, at the different ages at which they were compiled. It also illustrates the change in the social condition of the people, the tenure of land, the mode of agriculture, as well as many other cognate subjects, highly interesting to the student of local history. In those days we learn that oats were 28. per quarter, barley 3a 6d., salt 6s. 3d., beans and peas for fattening pigs for the larder, 2s. 6d. per quarter. An ox cost 8a, a pig la 6d., a hogget sheep lid. The charge for grinding a quarter of com 4a, for the agistment of a horse 3a, of an ox 2a A ploughshare cost 5d., whilst a man received 5d. per day for reaping and binding. The family names given in those old documents are most curious and significant, and form a striking contrast to the patronymics of modem times. In them we find Hugh de Burnynhill, Allan de Cringildikes, Roger Messhewer, John Gategang, and Adam Standupright In Hatfield's survey we have not only the names, but the social position of many of the inhabitants of our town. By it we find that the Pollards were possessed of considerable estates in tills town and neighbourhood, and thereby hangs a tale which will be noticed in the proper placa Lord William ColvyU also held forty acres of land, formerly the estate of Walter Burdon, and afterwards of Robert Herle. The heirs of William Kereby held lands called ** Wellcrock ;" William Bowes, Esq., held sixty acres upon Wellyngthom ; the Dean of Auckland held several lands therein specified ; and Richard de Bedlyngton, chaplain, held twenty acres in Priestsfield in free alms, of the gift of the Bishop. Seventeen cottagers wrought three days at hay, and had a farthing a day. Twenty-two tenants held the demesne lands, containing 134 acres, at 7d. per acra Twenty tenants held the new demesne lands, containing 79 acres, at 18d. per acre. The meadow grounds are next specified. In the rent of the bond-tenants the measure was to be " cumulat," or upheaped. The borough was farmed out with the profits of the borough court, burgage fees, toUs, profits of mills, the brew-farm, and the toll of beer in West Auckland, and the common fumace in North Auckland, at the rent of £26 13s. 4d. The Fulling Mill produced £48 8a, the Park £8, and fifty acres of meadow therein, 100s. From the account roUs of Roger de TikhiU, Bailiff of the Manor of Auckland, for the year ending 1350, we find the following entries bearing upon our subject, viz. : — Rec^ 6s. Sd. for the rent of the boat. Bec^ nothing for the 4 acres of meadow at the east gate, because it is reserved for the animals of chase. Becd nothing for the pasture below the hall, for the same reason. Eec^ 7a. 6d. for the bark of 23 trees, felled for fences between the park and the meadows. Enclosino thb Pabk. — ^To William Clerk and John his son, and to Simon de Shapp, for a stone wall to be built anew around the Park of Aukland,. by agreement, made in the presence of John de Sculthorp, the receiver of Durham, and Richard de Whitparys, the forester, as appears by indenture, £40. For making 340 rods of ditch around the meadows within the park, with " rybes" of my Lord's timber, to place upon the sadd work, by agreement, in gross, £7 lis. Sd. To a man erecting paling around the dose beneath the haU, 16 days at times, at 2d. per day, 2s. Sd. Sum MS lOs. lOd. On January 4th, 1353, letters patent were granted by Bishop Hatfield to Robert Heghakre, valet of his kitchen, of a Digitized by Google