THE LOWER THAMES BASIN 367 



of system can be other than highly conjectural and inconclusive. 

 It is evident that at Merstham no emphasis was put upon the 

 midland combination of furlongs into three large fields; the fur- 

 longs possessed rather an independence and flexibility which 

 admitted of any arrangement desired. 



If we turn now to our earliest sources of information regarding 

 Surrey fields, the fines and charters of the thirteenth century, we 

 shall get plenty of evidence that open fields were usual, but none 

 pointing to the existence of a regular field system. Various fines 

 dating from 10 Richard I to 19 Henry III locate the small parcels 

 of the transferred lands in such way as to leave no doubt that 

 open-field strips were in question.' 



In some terriers, furthermore, the location of strips is instruc- 

 tive. At Walworth a lease of 17 Edward II enumerates twenty 

 parcels containing 2o| acres of arable which lay in Ellenebussh, 

 Lolipette, Longewygheth, Fowes, and Southcroft.^ In four in- 

 stances, indeed, it is possible to discover in a measure how the par- 

 cels which constituted a virgate were disposed. At Mitcham a 

 half virgate and six acres are defined as " illam medietatem que 

 ubique iacet in campis de Inlond, Bery, Battesworth, Burforlang, 

 Spirihey, Westbroc, versus umbram . . ." ^ At Carshalton ten 

 acres taken from a virgate comprised two acres in Hodicumbe and 



" William Holman for a tenement, garden, and croft on the backside called Barkleyes containing 

 by estimation 2 acres and a halfe . . . 



for half an acre in North Deane in the common Feild . . . 



And for one yard in Swynk Furlong . . . 



And halfe an acre in North Worth . . . 



And for one yard in Towneman Meade . . . 



And 3 yards in Tottbury Bush shott . . . 



And for 2 acres in a peece in Crooked Land . . . 



And for one acre in Heyforiong . . . 



And halfe an acre there . . . 



And for halfe an acre there in Ashtedd . . . 



And for another halfe acre there . . . 



And halfe an acre in Tottbury Hill Furlong . . . 



And for halfe an acre in Tottbury Bush Shott . . . 



and for halfe an acre in Little Bosefeild Shott . . . 



and for one acre in the upper shott in Quarrepittden . . . 



And for one acre in Great Oate Croft ..." (ibid., 106). 



' Such open-field strips are attributable to Camberwell, " Bechom," " Maudon," 

 Kingston, and Thorp: Ped. Fin., 225-1-44 (10 Rich. I); 225-2-2 (i John); 225- 

 3-44 (14 John); 225-4-13 (3 Hen. Ill); 225-4-21 (3 Hen. III). 



* MSS. of the Dean and Chapter of Christchurch, Canterbury, Lib. B, f. 356. 



* Ped. Fin., 225-9-30, 19 Henry III. 



