SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC HISTORY 



from these high figures an average over the county would perhaps give ^d. 

 an acre as the usual value. 



The general trend of value seems to be higher in the southern part of 

 the county. This was the region where commutation was earliest, and it is 

 tempting to regard this as more than a coincidence ; even to seek as the 

 efficient cause a connexion with London and its markets. 



After about 1315—18 the result would be more definite, the /\.d. rate 

 became almost the rule, and there are very few advances above it. It held 

 at Great Wymondley and Weston in 13 18,*' at Benington in 1324,** and 

 at King's Walden from 1329 to 1337'° ; at Kimpton in 1337 ^° and at Reed 

 in 1341.^'' During the same period the acre was worth 3d', at Watton and 

 Little Wymondley *' and only zd. at Hoddesdon.*' 



These figures suggest a fall in the value of arable land ; and this is con- 

 firmed from other sources, for murrain and droughts had scarcely left the 

 cultivators the means to farm the arable. In 1341 a large part of it lay 

 unploughed at Hatfield, Totteridge, Datchworth and Welwyn, and in the 

 north-east at Barkway, Barley, Reed, Cottered, Buckland, Wyddial, ' Alflade- 

 wyk ' (Layston), Great and Little Hormead and Meesden.'" At Braughing, 

 Royston and Therfield the fields were in the same condition." Ware and 

 Hertford and their neighbourhood seem to have escaped, but Benington, 

 Westmill, Aspenden, Walkern, Wakeley, Rushden and Wallington were all 

 half desolate. So, too, were Sandon, AshweU, Bygrave and Clothall.''' What 

 the condition of the rest of the county was is not known,'' presumably it was 

 not much better. 



Under such circumstances land values naturally fell. It is noticeable that 

 from about this time there is mention of inclosed arable land, in which the 

 land in the common fields is rated as much less valuable. In 1 327 at Codicote 

 the acre of villein land in the open fields was worth ^\d. and 6d. to %d. an 

 acre inclosed.'* Inclosures were a possible remedy for agricultural depression. 

 To tie the culture of the fields to the well-being of the plough, beasts of the 

 whole village was obvious folly in the years of murrain. 



The extent of meadow -land in Hertfordshire is small, and its value 

 proportionately high ; it was worth zs. an acre at Standon in 1296,'^ at 

 Hormead in 1 3 1 3 '* ; at Hitchin (1268), Langley and Shenley (1291)." At 

 Sawbridgeworth between 1260 and 1270 its value was zs. to y. an acre'' ; 

 in 1302—3 other meadows there in Pisho Manor were worth zs. 6d. to 3J." 

 The lowest value mentioned is i?)d. an acre at Sacombe"" in 1282—3, and 

 Wigginton in 1284.^ Nor do these prices vary much in the first half of 

 the 14th century. Meadow-land had a natural protection from its very 

 restricted amount. 



8' Chan. Inq. p.m. iz Edw. II, no. 43. ^ Ibid. 17 Edw. II, no. 43. 



*^ Ibid. 3 Edw. Ill (ist nos.), no. 53 ; n Edw. II, no. zo. ^^ Ibid. 3 Edw. Ill (ist nos.), no. 53. 



"' Ibid. Edw. Ill, file 64, no. zo. *^ Ibid. 17 Edw. II, no. 39 ; iz Edw. II, no. 43. 



8« Ibid. 16 Edw. II, no. 4Z. 



^ Lay Subs. R. Herts, bdle. 120, no. zz ; Iriq. Nonarum (Rec. Com.), 431 et seq. '^ Ibid. 



'^ Ibid. ^^ Ibid. The original returns are now illegible in large part. 



'* Stowe MS. 849, fol. 50 et seq. ^* Chan. Inq. p.m. Z4 Edw. I, no. 107. 



'^ Ibid. 7 Edw. II, no. z6. '^ Ibid. 53 Hen. Ill, no. 43 ; Rentals and Surv. R. 279. 



'^ Chan. Inq. p.m. Hen. Ill, file Z9, no. z, 9 ; 56 Hen. Ill, no. 37. 



'' Rentals and Surv. portf. 8, no. 43. 1°" Chan. Inq. p.m. 1 1 Edw. I, no. 49. 



ilbid. Edw. I, file 38, no. 8. 



187 



