54 HULL SCIENTIFIC AND FIELD NATURALISTS CLUB. 



We know the complete history of Magnusdaile, the 

 estate next to the dough Field during nearly seven hundred 

 years. It had been got together bit by bit in the thirteenth 

 century, by the Monks of Meaux. They had one piece six 

 perches wide, from Robert de Melsa, the owner of the 

 berewic, for the health of his soul and the souls of his 

 ancestors, but were bound to repair the " Sedik " or river 

 bank, along which was a right of way, afterwards the High 

 Road. Some of the plots were given to keep up the daily 

 alms at the Abbey Gate, Some were got in exchanges, some 

 they redeemed from mortgages to the Jews at York and 

 Lincoln. They were permitted to enclose this estate of 

 thirty two acres with bank and ditch. It ran from the river 

 to Summergangs dike, and its northern boundary was a 

 stream called Gyselfleth. After a hundred years, however, 

 they had so neglected its boundaries that the cattle of the 

 neighbours roamed over it, but when they began to clear 

 out the ditches, the lord of the manor and the free tenants 

 made violent resistence. Then all the parties met on the 

 spot, the monks shewed their charters, old men gave their 

 recollections, and as Sir Thomas de Sutton took their 

 part, they were allowed to amend their boundaries. They 

 could then let the land at a mark per annum more than 

 before. 



At the Dissolution in 1539, Magnusdaile, in Dripole, was 

 occupied by Agnes Squyer, at the rent of ^3 19s. In 1608, 

 Peter Orrell, of South Cave, got a lease from James I. for 

 forty years, at ^3 a year, with 16s for " increase for the 

 price of a sheep." In 1627, his son, Walter, who was living 

 there in his own house, sold the remainder of the lease to 

 William Popple, described in the conveyance as " Master 

 and Mariner," for one hundred and forty eight pounds. In 

 1656, Alderman William Popple held the freehold, and left it 

 to his son, Edmund, it being then occupied by Peter Tocke, 

 the constable, and Richard Tocke. In 1709, John Idell 

 conveyed to Alderman Gray meadow land near Halfpenny 

 Gate, "otherwise Maunsdale ; " there was then, perhaps, 

 a toll gate on the High Road. About that time Henry 

 Cocke held Magnusdaile. In 1767 this property belonged 

 to Richard Hodgson. From him it passed to Howard ; the 

 brick making industry having spread over it. It was next 

 owned by Mr. Liddle, then the Flax and Cotton Mills, old 

 and new, were built upon it, with the workmen's dwellings 

 in Dansom Lane, called the Lines. Howard Street (now 

 Chapman Street) was run through it, and the Groves got 



