The "Bounds" of Ightham Parish. A Record of 1805

( 179 ) THE "BOUNDS" OF IGHTHAM PARISH. A RECORD OE 1805. BY SIR EDWARD HARRISON. BENJAMIN HARRISON, the Ightham archseologist, was the grandson of Thomas Harrison (1756-1837), who was himseh the eldest member of a f amhy of five brothers and two sisters. One of Thomas Harrison's brothers was John Harrison, who was born at Ightham in 1762, who hved for a time at Seal, and who died in 1836 at Ivy Hatch. Little is known of John Harrison's hfe and activities, but for that httle we owe him our gratitude. He bought for himseh a respectable-looking, parchment-covered manuscript book,1 and used it over a period of thirty-odd years as a record of his payments of rates and taxes and of certain other financial transactions, as well as of occasional family events. He knew how to drive a bargain, for he " agreed with Mrs. Eversfield to wash and mend" for his younger brother " for £1.11.6 yr. up to June 29th, 1808." He paid regularly " PoorSess," " Church Sess," " L. and Window Tax," "Dog Tax," "House and Land Tax," " Highways," and " Tythe," and, on one occasion, " Clock and Watch 3s. 4d." The individual payments were smah in amount: his contribution to the highways was Is. 6d.a year, or less. John Harrison may have been parish Rate Collector both at Ightham and at Seal. He entered in his book complete copies of Poor Rates made for the parish of Ightham in 1798 and 1805 and of a rate for the repairs of the church made for the parish of Seal in 1792. There were about 98 entries in the rates for Ightham and 203 for Seal. A rate of 1 The original book is in the possession of Mrs. Willcox, of Torquay, who has courteously allowed the writer full access to it. 180 THE " BOUNDS " OE IGHTHAM PARISH. three shihings and sixpence in the pound for Ightham in 1798 produced £236,. a rate of five shillings in the pound in 1805 produced £396. At Seal a rate of sixpence in the pound in 1792 produced £52. In addition to many entries that were not grouped, entries in the 1798 rate for Ightham parish were placed under the heads " Mote Hamlet," " Saint Clare Hamlet," " Red Weh Hamlet," " Ivy Hatch Hamlet," and " Boro Green Hamlet," a fact that may be considered to give some httle support to the view that the name of the parish is derived from the eight " hams " that may be counted within its borders. The rate for Seal is summarised at the end under the heads, " Town," " Fuller Street and Chart," " Stone St. and Bitchett," " Under River," " Goding and Faulk," and " Out Bounders." Space does not permit of the reproduction at length of these rates : there is a stih more interesting record in John Harrison's book. In 1805, on April 25th and 26th, he " went the Bounds of the Parish with the Revd. Thos. Cobb " (and, it is likely, with other inhabitants), and he has left us a hst of the 216 marks made in this perambulation on Stub and Stain, Pohard Maple, Yew Tree, Spire Oak, Gate Post and Stone. Starting from somewhere near the middle of the western boundary, an " oak stub " on Crown Point hill, the party made their way northwards from point to point, across Holmesdale and up the Chalk scarp to Two Chimney House (Mark 47) at the extreme northern end of the parish. A " turn to right "—southeast—fohowed by a turn southwards through Birch Wood (Mark 51) brought them back across Holmesdale to Oldbury farm house (Mark 108). One hah of the total number of marks had now been made, three sides of a long, narrow strip of land, shaped hke a knife blade, being enclosed within the lines traced. At Oldbury farm the parish broadens abruptly and the course was north and east to Fen Green (Mark 123) where the perambulators left off for the day. Next morning they continued their journey, THE " BOUNDS " OF IGHTHAM PARISH. 181 going eastward round the northern side of Ightham Court, south-east to the Ightham-Maidstone road near Dark HiU, and thence " long the road to B[orough] Green Corner " (Mark 143). From Borough Green the boundary runs south-west to the bottom of Thong Lane (Mark 151) and thence to Buley (or " Bewley," Mark 170) and High Cross (Mark 183), near Ivy Hatch. From High Cross the party descended into the Weald (ct Mr. Selby's meadow "— Mark 192—on Ightham Mote estate, and " Budds lane "— Mark 196). A final turn northwards up the Ragstone escarpment, and into the woods to the " Post on Common by Frank field " (Mark 216) brought them back to Crown Point hill. On the completion of the ceremony of going the bounds the Revd. Thomas Cobb generously " pd Dinners at Crown Point " [Inn], at a cost to himseh of £3.10.0 for 18 dinners, beer and spirits, punch, and tobacco. I t wih be seen from the hst of marks that the record contains a wealth of ancient field and other names. Many of these names are famihar to present-day dwehers in the parish, but others had almost been lost and it is John Harrison's careful record that has preserved them for future generations. The fohowing is an exact copy of the record. A few explanatory words have been added to the text, and are shown in square brackets. " 1805. Went the Bounds of the Parish with the Bevd. Thos. Cobb, April 25th-26th. 1 Begun at Oak Stub R.H. Side Crown Point Hill. 2 Oak Do. E. Corner Bennett's field. 3 Beech in Hedge farther on in Do. 4 Ash Corner Duttnah's Garden. 5 Ash Pollard by DuttnalPs Orchard. 6 Ash Pollard Corner Bassett's field. 7 Beech Pold. Corner Hubble's field oposite H[op] Garden. 8 Pold. Beech W. Side Hubble's field. 9 Pold. Ash Near the Oast in Newgate Lane. 10 Pold. Ash Corner upper Chart Lands. 182 THE " BOUNDS " OE IGHTHAM PARISH. 11 Spire Oak in Buckwell Meadow. 12 Oak Pold. Nr. Do. in Do. 13 Pold. Maple North Corner Buckwell Meadow. 14 Spire Oak in Coach Road below BW [Buckwell] Mead. 15 Pollard Ash Corner of Ox pastures. 16 Pollard Ash West Side Ox pastures. 17 Ash PoUard Middle Ox pastures West Side. 18 Pold. Oak North West Corner Ox pastures. 19 Pold. Maple North West Corner Woody field. 20 Spire Maple West Side Spindal Shaw. 21 Pollard Oak Do. Near Do. 22 Pollard Oak in Mr. Evelyn's Lylies. 23 B[lack] Thorn W. Corner Long Mead. 24 Large Crab Tree W. Side Do. 25 Pold. Maple New Mark W. Side Long Mead. 26 Stone near the Style West Corner of Do. 27 Spire Oak in Hope field. 28 Spire Elm in Wilderness field. 29 Spire Elm W. Corner Wilderness. 30 Stone North West Corner of Do. 31 Spire Maple in Pilgrim Road. 32 Yew Tree in Coleman Bank. 33 Pollard Oak Top of Do. 34 Pollard Oak in Nine Acres. 35 Pollard Maple North West Corner of Do. 36 Ash Pollard Obram field. 37 Post Markd. the Horse Gate North West Obram field. 38 Pollard Maple North West corner forge field. 39 Yew Post North East corner top of Do. 40 Pollard Ash East Side of Do. 41 Ash Pollard Corner by Edmeads Drane House. 42 On Gate Post Home field oposite Do. 43 Pollard Ash by Gate in Lane below. 44 Pollard Maple bottom of Do. 45 On Gate Post North West Corner Birch wood. 46 Spire Oak North Side Birch Wood. 47 Spire Oak Near 2 Chimney House by Gate Way. 48 Turn to Right markd. on small Oak by pond in Lane. 49 Beech Pollard farther on in Do. 50 To Do. in Do. in Lane. 51 Beech Pollard North East corner Birch wood. THE " BOUNDS " OE IGHTHAM PARISH. 52 Ash Pollard about 5 Rod in Birch Wood. 53 Pollard Beech in Do. and Straight on. 54 Pollard Oak in Do. Near a Yew Tree. 55 Ash Pollard in Do. Fresh Mark. 56 Ash Pollard by the Ride. 57 Ash Pollard near Do. 58 Pollard Maple in Do. 59 Willow Stam turn to the Right of the Wood. 60 Spire Oak in Long Ride. 61 White Thorn by Short Ride. 62 Pollard Ash near Do. 63 Pollard Maple below Do. 64 Pollard Ash in Do. Near the bottom. 65 Beech Stam by Gate Post Bottom Birch Wood. 66 Beech Pollard by Horse Gate Warren field. 67 Beech Pollard Near Do. in Warren. 68 On Gate Post going out of Shoulder Muttn. 69 On Yew Tree in Shoulder field. 70 On White Thorn in 13 Acres corner Hog trough. 71 and then Streight Cross 13 Acres from Hog trough. 72 to a Beech Grubd. and now markd. on fur Bott 9 Acres. [now marked on fir, bottom of Nine Acres], 73 Stone in Pilgrim Road Near Esq. Evelyn's. 74 Spire Elm N. East Corner of the plains. 75 Spire Elm East Side of Do. 76 Spire Elm North East Corner Hop Garden top. 77 White Thorn South East Corner of Do. 78 Pollard Ash Hall field. 79 White Thorn in Do. 80 White Thorn in Fish Pond field. 81 Pollard Ash in Do. 82 Pollard Ash Near the Pond. 83 Stone near the Coach Road. 84 White Thorn in and near Do. 85 Pollard Beech in Do. 86 Pollard Oak near Do. 87 Stone in Lady Walk. 88 Spire Ash End of Do. 89 Spire Oak in Martin's land field. 90 Stone in Do. near to Do. 91 Pollard Oak East Side of long Hunts. 184 THE "BOUNDS" OE IGHTHAM PARISH. 92 Pollard Ash in Do. 93 A Stone in Lady Mead. 94 Pollard Oak between Lady Mead S. Side. 95 Stone in further Lady Mead Near Gate. 96 Pollard Oak North West Corner Patch Grove. 97 Spire Oak West Side Patch Grove Wood. 98 Ash Pollard South West Corner of Do. Hickman's Land. 99 Beech Stam South East Corner Patch Grove. 100 WUlow Pollard the East Side Patch Grove. 101 Alder South Side Grange Styant's Meadow. 102 Spire Oak Top of Grange. 103 Beech Pollard North East Corner Meadow. 104 Beech Do: East Side of Do. 105 On Post on Top of Great Ives field. 106 Pollard Oak North East Corner Warren. 107 Ash Pollard in Mr. Hickman's Yard. 108 Yew Post by Wood Lodge Near the House. 109 Oak Pollard in Mr. Hickman's Orchard. 110 Pollard Maple bottom Barn field. 111 Pollard Ash Top Hop Garden. 112 Pollard Ash Do. near Do. 113 Pollard Maple Ives Shaw. 114 Pollard Ash North East corner of Ives. 115 PoUard Ash Mr. Batt's 11 Acres. 116 On Gate Post North West Corner of Do. 117 On Gate Post Corner of Fen Mead. 118 On Do. Post in Do. 119 On Horse Gate top of Do. 120 Pollard Oak Corner Fen Mead. 121 On Post by Style next Fen Mead. 122 Pollard Ash by the Side of Fen Pond. 123 Maple Pollard on Top Fen Green Nr. the House. 18 Friday 26th Apl. 05. 124 On Stone N.W. corner Wilderness. 125 Spire Ash N.E. corner of Do. 126 Spire Oak right Cross 6 Acre Mead. 127 Spire Oak N.E. corner 3 Acres. 128 Spire Oak S.E. Corner 9 Acre Mead. 129 Spire Oak N.W. Corner Ruffett. THE " BOUNDS " OE IGHTHAM PARISH. 185 130 Pollard Beech N. Side Ruffett. 131 Maple Stam N.E. Corner Ruffett. 132 Spire Oak near the gate in landway. 133 PoUd. Beech N.W. C[orner] Mr. Knowles' 6 Acres. 134 PoUd. Ash by the Gate in lower bottoms. 135 PoUd. Ash opposite N. S[ide] 6 Acres. 136 Spire Oak E. S[ide] of 6 Acres. 137 Ash Stubb N. S[ide] Sheep field. 138 PoUd. Ash S.E. Side of Do. 139 Maple Stub Do. in Do. 140 On Gate Post in Home field. 141 PoUd. Ash To Stack Plat field. 142 PoUd. Ash Cross the bancks N.E. Corner Swing Gate. 143 PoUd. Ash by Turnpike road long the road to B[orough] Green Corner. 144 Plum Tree N.W. Corner Webster's Garden. 145 Ash PoUd. N.E. Corner of Do. 146 Black Thorn S.E. Corner of Do. by the Road. 147 PoUd. Ash Stub S. Side Tomlyn's Garden Cross R[oad]. 148 PoUd. Ash S.E. Corner Mr. Steven's field. 149 On Gate Post Mr. S[teven's] Hop Garden in thong Lane. 150 PoUd. Ash S.E. Corner of Do. 151 PoUd. Maple bottm. Thong lane in Mr. W. Taylor's Mead. 152 Maple Stubb in the Deeek [Dyke or Ditch]. 153 Maple Stam top of the firze field. 154 PoUd. Elm Mill Lane R. hand Side road. 155 PoUd. Elm E. S[ide] Mr. W. Taylor's field. 156 PoUd. Ash S.E. Corner T.T. [query Taylor's] 5 Acres, all along E. S[ide] 6 and 8 A[cres]. 157 PoUd. Ash in burch Hams. 158 PoUd. Maple by Stile in Do. 159 White Thorn N.E. Corner Burch hams. 160 PoUd. Ash S.E. Corner of Do. 161 Pd. Oak at the Gate bottom landway. 162 Polld. Maple N.E. Corner Broad Seer. 163 Polld. Oak S.E. Corner broad Seer in the Shaw. 164 Polld. Ash Mr. J. Taylor's Hop Garden. 165 AStone to be put top Wise's Hop Garden of J. T[aylor]. 166 On Stone in Do. 167 Polld. Oak W. S[ide] in Mr. W. Taylor's four Acres. 168 Polld. Beech in Mr. W. T[aylor's] Shaw. 186 THE " BOUNDS " OE IGHTHAM PARISH. 169 On the Gate Post top of Hop Garden. 170 On White Thorn by Style in bewley Lane. 171 Polld. Maple S.E. Corner Mr. W. T[aylor's] Eight Acres. 172 Polld. Ash S. S[ide] of Do. then Turn. 173 Spire Elm Corner of Lands field. 174 Polld. Ash E. S[ide] R. Summers' field. 175 Polld. Maple N.E. Corner Summers' field. 176 Beech Stub W. S[ide] Corner banks Wood. 177 Beech Do. Next field W. S[ide] Corner of Do. 178 Wt. Thorn Stam S.W. Corner Cole Banks. 179 Spire Oak in Corner S. Side leave the Wood. 180 On Holey [holly] Corner Summers' Hop Garden. 181 Polld. Ash N.E. Corner Lower Rob Sacks. 182 Ash Polld. Cross Streeton's field in High Cross road. 183 On Stone by High Cross Right Hand. 184 Polld. Ash in Lane below high cross. 185 Polld. Beech N. S[ide] Pickering's Croft. No. 63 lost.* Polld. Maple Near Style bottom of Do. 187 Spire Ash E. S[ide] field below uper South Seers. 188 On Post Style N.E. Corner Lower South Seers. 189 W[hite] Thorn S.E. Corner South Seers. 190 Ash Polld. South Side South Seers. 191 Polld. Ash Near Do. in Do. 192 Spire Oak Corner Mr. Selby's Meadow. 193 Maple Stubb by the Stream. 194 Ash Stam by Style in Meadow. 195 Spire Oak budds lane Near Harmans. 196 On Stone in Budds lane. 197 Spire Oak by Cinder-field Gate. 198 Polld. Ash in Ruffetts Mead. 199 Poll. Maple in Do. 200 Poll. Oak Lower Corner of Do. 201 Polld. Maple S.W. Corner of Ruffitts. 202 Polld. Ash in Shaw adjoining Ruffetts. 203 Polld. Maple S.W. Corner of Hop House Mead. 204 Spire Ash E. Side of Wood Spring HiU. 205 PoUd. Ash coming up the HiU Nr. Gate Left road. 206 Polld. Ash Cinder field Shaw on Right Side. 207 Black Thorn by road leading to Lime Kiln. * " No. 63 " evidently relates to a number of a mark recorded in an earlier perambulation of the parish. THE " BOUNDS " OE IGHTHAM PARISH. 208 Spire Beech in Martin land wood. 209 Spire Ash Bottom Martin land wood. 210 Spire Ash in Shaw S.W. corner well field. 211 Spire Oak N.W. Corner Well field. 212 Spire Ash Mr. Willmott's long slip. 213 Ash Polld. in next field Near the Gate. 214 Oak Polld. in Do. by the Gate. 215 Polld. Oak out in the Lane by the beggar house. 216 Post on Common by Frank field. Finished April 26th 1805 J. Harrison.'