OF THK PAUISII OF WATI'OliU. 195 



Some of its "errable" (i.e. arable) lands remained unenclosed 

 within living memory, and their name is preserved in "Watford 

 Pield House," which adjoined them. Watford Field was known 

 as " Lammas Laud " because it was thrown open on Lammas Day 

 (August 1st) after the crops were cleared off, to be pastured over 

 by the commoners' cattle. These arable fields were divided into 

 "furlongs," or as they were called in some parts of the county, 

 " shots," whence come the names " Logger Shots," " Upper 

 Shotts," and " Stanishot." The "furlongs" or "shots" were 

 divided into long and narrow strips called " acres," a word 

 surviviug in "Tithe Acre" and "Starve Acre." The acres were 

 separated from each other by narrow strips of turf known as 

 "balks," shown in the name "Mare Balks." Across the hutt or 

 end of an "acre " sometimes ran a short broad strip of land called 

 a " butt," which explains the name " Colney Butts." The 

 " acres " were ploughed into parallel ridges aud furrows, called 

 "lands," the one which adjoined the edge of the field being known 

 as the " Sideland." Hence the name " Sideland Mead." 



Next we come to the "leyse [i.e. leys or leas — meadows] to 

 tye or tedder theyr horses and mares upon." These leys were 

 strips of grass land lying in the open fields mixed up with the 

 strips of arable. Thus in a terrier of 1751, at Orlingbury, 

 Northants, we find in one of the open fields called " Snortwell 

 Field," "three leyes " described as "Grass Ground Horse Pasture." 

 Consequently the horses and mares had to be tethered on the grass 

 to prevent them from straying on to the arable strips. Such 

 "leys" have left their names in "Lea Mead," "Lay Pightle," 

 "Lea Farm," and " Lees Wood." Sometimes, however, a definite 

 piece of land was set aside for the horses, distinct from the open 

 field, as we see from the name " Horse Moor," a moor being 

 a rough pasture by a river. 



The "common pasture" for " catell beestes and shepe " was 

 parted from the arable fields by hedges. It was of more than one 

 kind. Some pastiu-es lay along the river-side, and consisted of rough 

 coarse grass, such as may still be seen on Watford "Common Moor." 

 The "Cow Moor" and the "Ox Pasture" must have been of 

 a similar kind. Other pasture was on the higher ground covered 

 with furze or heath, of which the small common called " Watford 

 Heath " is the last survival in the parish. A third kind of pastm-e 

 was to be found in the woods, which aiforded beechmast or acorns 

 for the swine. " Common Wood Common," although now cleared 

 of trees, represents the remains of this woodland pasture. The 

 geese, too, had their feeding-grounds provided, as we see from the 

 names " Goose Clack" and "Gander's Pye." 



The people of Watford also had their ' ' medowe groundes to get 

 theyr hay upon." These meadows, like the arable lands, were 

 divided into strips, which were marked out by rows of stones or 

 wooden posts. It was customary to cast lots for these pieces of 

 meadow, so as to give all a chance of getting a good piece. 

 Watford "Common Mead," adjoining the Lammas Lands, was 



