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
Information on management of the group of commons, including the latest version of the scrub management plan, can be found on this site under the Management of Commons section.
What's New?
30th October 2014 - STOP PRESS! Work will begin this week to prepare selected areas of the Commons to receive the wild flower seed which we harvested back in July. Visit the page 'seed enhancement' page under the 'Grassland Management' menu in the 'Management' section of this website to find out more.
September 2014 - The Commons are taking part in the South Gloucestershire Discover Festival! Visit the 'Events' page under the 'Get Involved' menu above to find out more.
July 2014 - Wild flower seed has been gathered from nearby species-rich grasslands for seed enhancement on the Commons. This is a great step forward in improving the flower-richness of the Commons. Visit the 'seed enhancement' page under the 'Grassland Management' menu in the 'Management' section of this website to find out more and to watch a slideshow of the work in progress!
June 2014 - Weed control will be taking place on the Commons, through to July. Visit the 'Weed Control' page under the 'Management' menu above to find out more.
What's New?
30th October 2014 - STOP PRESS! Work will begin this week to prepare selected areas of the Commons to receive the wild flower seed which we harvested back in July. Visit the page 'seed enhancement' page under the 'Grassland Management' menu in the 'Management' section of this website to find out more.
September 2014 - The Commons are taking part in the South Gloucestershire Discover Festival! Visit the 'Events' page under the 'Get Involved' menu above to find out more.
July 2014 - Wild flower seed has been gathered from nearby species-rich grasslands for seed enhancement on the Commons. This is a great step forward in improving the flower-richness of the Commons. Visit the 'seed enhancement' page under the 'Grassland Management' menu in the 'Management' section of this website to find out more and to watch a slideshow of the work in progress!
June 2014 - Weed control will be taking place on the Commons, through to July. Visit the 'Weed Control' page under the 'Management' menu above to find out more.
