Hawkesbury Common - tranquility and beasts
Hawkesbury and Inglestone Commons - these extensive commons with their typical settlement pattern of small groups of cottages and farms around the edges, are ancient landscape features which have survived unchanged for a millennium. Commons were part of the “waste” of a manor, not suitable for arable or rich meadow land. Hawkesbury Common was known as “Hawkesburye’s More”, and Inglestone Common as “Inguston Greene”, “The Green Common”, or even “The Grosse Common of Hawkesbury below the Hill”.
The traditional grazing period of beasts on the commons was regulated by manorial custom, as were their number and type. Animals do not respect parish boundaries, as this account from 1603 shows: “the wastes of these two manors (Hawkesbury and Horton) do abutt each upon the other divided only with a little brook or ford through which cattle have used time out of mind to wade or stray through into the other common”.
At fixed times of the year the Lord of the Manor could “drive” the common and “if he findeth any cattle of the tenants of Horton then he impound them and for any beasts the owner do paye a poundpenny before they have had these cattle again delivered”.
The traditional grazing period of beasts on the commons was regulated by manorial custom, as were their number and type. Animals do not respect parish boundaries, as this account from 1603 shows: “the wastes of these two manors (Hawkesbury and Horton) do abutt each upon the other divided only with a little brook or ford through which cattle have used time out of mind to wade or stray through into the other common”.
At fixed times of the year the Lord of the Manor could “drive” the common and “if he findeth any cattle of the tenants of Horton then he impound them and for any beasts the owner do paye a poundpenny before they have had these cattle again delivered”.
Management of Hawkesbury, Inglestone, Assley and Hareley Commons
The commons are all managed by South Gloucestershire Council. Hawkesbury and Inglestone Common is owned by Badminton Estate, Assley and Hareley Commons are owned by Stroud District Council.
Information on management of the group of commons, including the scrub management plan, can be found on this site under the Management of Commons section.
Information on management of the group of commons, including the scrub management plan, can be found on this site under the Management of Commons section.