SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC HISTORY 



evidence on this point. The figures available illustrate, first, location of 

 wealth in the county, and in a secondary way the location of the people. 

 Between 1545 and 1599 the taxpayers of Buckland diminished from twenty- 

 five to three, those of Wyddial from twenty-eight to seven, of Aspenden 

 from twenty-six to eight, of Great Hormead from thirty-seven to nine, 

 and of Barkway from eighty to twenty-two.^" Between 1599 and 1640 the 

 decrease occurred at Stocking Pelham from six to two, at Anstey from fifteen 

 to ten, at Barkway from twenty-two to sixteen, at Barley from seventeen 

 to thirteen, at Wyddial from seven to two, and at Layston from thirteen to 

 nine. The numbers were maintained or increased at Meesden from five to 

 five, at Great Hormead from nine to seventeen, at Little Hormead from 

 three to five, at Buckland from three to four, at Aspenden from eight to 

 nine, and at Throcking from three to three. 



The movement indicated in this hundred is then as follows. Between 

 1545 and 1599 there was a startling decrease of property owners, especially in 

 the large places, some of which, like Great Hormead, became mere villages, 

 from the taxable point of view. After 1599 there was a distinct increase in 

 the wealth of the small places, but some of the market towns and larger 

 places continued to decay. That this was true in other parts of the shire we 

 know from the case of Berkhampstead." Statistics for St. Albans have not 

 been worked out, but there was a decrease of fifteen taxpayers in the middle 

 ward between 1545 and 1599.^' Parts of Cashio Hundred can be contrasted 

 between 1599 and 1663, with the following results. There is a marked 

 increase in the case of Watford, from thirty-six taxpayers to seventy-five. 

 Elsewhere there is nothing to parallel this. At Ridge the increase was 

 sixteen, and at Sleap with Smallford ten. Additions from two to six are 

 found at Shephall, Sandridge, Windridge, Hexton, Codicote, St. Michael 

 and Park, but none of these places had as many as thirty taxpayers even in 

 1665. The large places — Redbourn (thirty-nine names in 1599) and 

 Aldenham (forty-six names) — decreased slightly." The conclusion as to 

 this hundred must be that the small places were prospering and the large 

 ones were only just maintaining their level. 



Part of Odsey Hundred seems to have a similar history between the 

 same dates. Of the places with more than ten taxpayers in 1599 Ash well 

 declined from twenty-seven to seventeen, and so did Sandon from eleven to 

 nine, Royston from sixteen to fifteen, Ardeley from nineteen to fourteen ; 

 but at Therfield the numbers rose from seventeen to twenty-one. Where 

 the number in 1599 was under ten there was decrease at Kelshall from nine 

 to seven, at Rushden from six to four, at Wallington from seven to four, at 

 Cottered from seven to five, at Clothall from six to five, and at Radwell 

 from two to one. At Hinxworth, from four to eight ; at Reed, from fifteen 

 to six ; at Bygrave, from one to three ; and at Bradfield, from one to one, 

 the numbers keep up or increase.^* 



The impression left is that there was a startling decline in the larger 

 villages between 1545 and 1599, and that this proceeded very slowly 



1" Herts. Gen. and Antiq. i, 163 ; Lay Subs. R. bdle. 121, no. 264. 



11 V.C.H. Herts, ii, 172, 173. 



12 Herts. Gen. and Antiq. i, 225 ; .Lay Subs. R. bdle. 121, no. 265. 



^3 Lay Subs. R. bdle. 121, no. 266, 346. ^* Ibid. no. 264, 339. 



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