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”.

Information on management of the group of commons can be found on this site under the Management of Commons section

M&G Development have completed the first of three years scrub managenment. The photos of completed works will be uploaded to the scrub management pages.  We have also given M&G some additional works from year 2 and year 3. Thank you Miles and Giles for an excellent start.

The remaining scrub on the spur leading to Assley and Hareley will be left for the time being due to reports of nightingale nesting taking place here.

The Coppice group have been making inroads into a smaller section. Thank you again to your input, do you have any photos of work in action.

Avon Wildlife Trust have now finished scrub work on site for this season 2011-2012. Thank you Ellie and your team for your interest and support in our project.