A HISTORY OF HERTFORDSHIRE 



returned under Edwinstree, it is probable that this is due to the omission of a 

 heading. With these exceptions the area has remained unchanged since 1086. 



Within the hundred there has been to some extent a change of com- 

 position. Layston is not mentioned in the Domesday Survey, but is evidently 

 represented by Alfladewylc. In the Subsidy Rolls of the 13th and 14th 

 centuries it is noticeable that Layston and Alfladewyk do not occur on the 

 same Roll,* and ' the parish of Lestanchurch called Alfladewyk ' was assessed 

 for a ninth in 1 340.' It seems probable, therefore, that after ' le stan church ' 

 was built and Alfladewyk became an ecclesiastical parish, Lestancherch 

 or Layston gradually superseded Alfladewyk as the parochial name. In the 

 1 2th century the church of Alswick acknowledged itself a chapel to this 

 church and Alswick was thenceforward included within the ecclesiastical 

 parish of Layston, but as a civil parish it remained separate for purposes of 

 taxation as late as the i6th century. Wakeley is another ancient parish 

 which has failed to maintain its entity. In 1307 three persons were 

 assessed there for a lay subsidy ^ ; at the levy of the ecclesiastical subsidy in 

 1428 a return of 'no inhabitants' was made.' It was taxed separately as 

 late as the 17th century, although only one resident was assessed for the 

 hearth tax.' Berkesden was an ancient ecclesiastical parish, but apparently 

 had no separate civil existence. In the i 3th century Bordesden and Patmore 

 (both of which are mentioned in the Domesday Survey) appear as townships 

 with judicial responsibilities," and in 1307 a subsidy was charged on 'Little 

 Hormead and Bordesden.'" There is no evidence, however, that either of 

 these ever formed a separate parish. There are none of the small boroughs 

 in this hundred which are common in Braughing, but by the beginning of 

 the 14th century the road settlements of Barkway on the Cambridge road 

 and Much Hadham on the route from Essex into the south of Hertfordshire 

 are found considerably in advance of the other parishes in size of popula- 

 tion." Next to these in 1307 come Albury, Anstey and Barley, whilst 

 Buckland on Ermine Street stands considerably lower. In 1545 Barkway 

 was by far the richest township in the hundred.^' 



The subdivision of holdings in this hundred before the Conquest is 

 very noticeable. With the exception of the estates of the Bishop of 

 London and the church of Ely at Hadham and of the abbey of Chatteris at 

 Barley, nearly every parish seems to have been divided into small holdings 

 held by the men or sokemen of the king. Earl Harold, Earl Algar, 

 Archbishop Stigand, Asgar the Staller, Anschil of Ware, Godwin of 

 Benefel, Almar of Belintone and others.** After the Conquest these 



* cf. Lay Subs. R. bdle. i zo, no. 5 (24 Edw. I), where Lestancherch is given, but not Alfladewyk ; 

 bdle. 120, no. 7 (34 Edw. I), where Alfladewyk is assessed; and bdle. 120, no. 8 (i Edw. II), where 

 Alfladewyk is giren again, Layston not being mentioned in the two latter rolls. See also Assize R. 318 (32 

 Hen. Ill), where there is an entry concerning the drowning of a certain Elena near ' Lestoneschurch.' 

 Her brother, the first finder, did not appear, and was attached by Hugh the Clerk of Alfladewyk. 



* Inj. Nonarum (Rec. Com.), 432 ; see Assize R. 325 (15 Edw. I), m. 7, where the parish of Alfladewyk 

 is mentioned. 



' Lay Subs. R. bdle. 120, no. 1 20 (i6 Hen. VIII). T jyd. no. 8 



8 Feud. Aids, ii, 457. 9 Lay Subs. R. bdle. 248, no. 29. 



10 Assize R. 323. " Lay Subs. R. bdle. 120, no. 8 (i Edw. II) 



" Ibid. no. 7, 8. i' See Subsidy Roll printed in Herts. Gen. and Antiq. i, 163. 



>* In connexion with these holdings of sokemen the occurrence in three cases of the sufiix 'wick' 

 preceded by a personal name is interesting. Lewarewick had been held T. R. E. by Lcware Alswick is 

 evidently a contraction of Alsiswick, and Alfladewyk probably took its name from an ^thelflaeda' 



