Earnwood Manor Accounts 1373-4

Earnwood today forms the eastern part of the parish of Kinlet and includes much of the Wyre Forest. In medieval times it was a distinct manor, owned directly by the powerful Mortimer family, who were almost certainly attracted to it because of the good hunting provided by the forest. In the 13th Century it was sufficiently remote for the hunting lodge to be used as a prison by the Mortimers and when in 1297 Edmund Mortimer wished to meet with some of his fellow barons in a place remote from the king, he chose Earnwood. However, Earnwood was not all virgin forest; a village grew up with its own fields and several farms were created by clearing woodland (the process of assarting). A detailed picture of life in Earnwood comes from a set of accounts from 1373/4. At this time, the manor was in the hands of Philippa de Mortimer, the grandmother of the head of the family. Earnwood was one of a cluster of estates that she held for her life, following the death of her husband in 1360. The accounts were drawn up by her steward, Jerven de Chamber and deal with the land Philippa owned directly; she is referred to as “the lady”. The accounts open with the “arrears”, carried from the previous year. The rents of assize were the rents tenants paid for their farms; one of the largest sources of income for Philippa. Sales of works refers to tenants who were meant to carry out physical work on Philippa’s farm; in practice they paid a small sum of money to avoid some jobs like ploughing, although they were still co-opted for the hay harvest. On the debit side of the account, Jervan explains why certain rents had fallen (defaults of rents) and the various expenses are detailed at length.
A most important part of the manor was Earnwood Park. This was a portion of woodland enclosed behind a wooden fence and particularly reserved for deer. However, the deer had to share it with other animals including rabbits, much to the apparent frustration of Jervan. The boundaries of Earnwood Park can still be traced on the map and, in places, on the ground. A portion of it extended into Highley and perhaps by way of compensation, a portion of Earnwood by the Birch Farm was within the manor of Highley.

The original version of this document is in the National Archives (SC2/967/3). We are grateful to Dr Sylvia Watts and the Odericus Vitalis Latin Local History Group for translating this document for us.

The account of Jervan de Chamber, bailiff and parker of the lady Phillipa, Countess of March there from the feast of St Michael in the 47th year of the reign of King Edward the thirs after the conquest until the morrow of the same feast in the 48th year of the said king.

Arrears
The same answers for 9s of the arrears of his last account of this office for the year next preceding
Sum 9s

Rents of assize.
And for £11-14-2 of rents of assize from Ernewode at the terms of St Martin and the birth of the Blessed John the Baptist with 2s of new rent of William Elf by equal portions.
Sum £11-14-2

Sales of works
And for 4s from 6 works of ploughing at the winter season and 6 works of ploughing at the Lent season sold at the price of a work 4s.
Sum 4s

Issues of the manor
And for 20s ½ d received from the pannage of the pigs in the wood of Earmwood as appears by the court rolls. From the pannage of pigs in the wood of Highley nothing this year because no mast. For pasture of beasts in the park in winter nothing. And for 17-7 for pasture of beasts in the park and Lymeputesfeld this year in summer. From the revenues of the meadow near the Severn nothing this year because it was pastured with beasts issuing for the store of the lady, and it used to be sold for 2/6. For the issue of the dovecote this year nothing because there was no profit. For Colvermede and Borlemede nothing here because they are included with the park and used for the lady’s deer. And for 6d of herbage of Rosselescroft sold this year. For honey or wax nothing this year because none was found. For cropping of trees for making of pales nothing here because they are carried to the court for firewood for the household. For garden fruit nothing this year. And for 8s for poles from Lyndes sold this year for 4s at various times and 4s at the feast of Michaelmas in the following year. From nettles in the garden nothing this year. And for 20s from 8 wagon loads of bark from the trees for the said pale sold this year, the price of a wagon 2/6.
Sum 65s 3½d

Sale of stock
And for 2/4 from 1 calf sold
Sum 2/4

Perquisites of the court
And for 16/10 from the perquisites of 1 court held there on the 2nd day of March this year
Sum 16/10

Outside receipts
And for 6/8 received from William Northern, bailiff of Ribbesford; and for £4-6-8 received from Walter Parcer of Cleobury without tally by the hand of Roger Elf for birches sold; and for 35s received from Thomas Longemore, reeve of Arley by 1 tally; and for £6 received from Geoffrey Bluet, receiver, whereof £4 by the hand of John Wire, former reeve of Arley.
Sum £12-8-4

Sum of the whole receipt with arrears £28-9-11½

Default of rent
Thus he accounts in default of the rent of 1 messuage formerly of William atte Lynde because it is in the hand of the lady at the terms of St Martin and the birth of John the Baptist, 2d a year because it lies within the Chase of Wyre, whereof the issue nothing. In default of the rent of a tenement formerly of Gillian Blakenegge for the same reason 6d at the accustomed terms, whereof the issue nothing. In default of the rent of Whatenordescroft for the same reason 6d, whereof the issue nothing. In decrease of the rent of 1 croft formerly of Margery le Deye which used to render 3/6 pa removed to Wm Hugyns for the term of his life at 21d pa. In default of the rent of 3 crofts lying in ?Theligono formerly of Richard Skot because they are in the hands of the lady, 23d at the same terms, whereof the issue nothing. In default of the rent of a parcel of meadow and a grove formerly of Wm Blakenegge inclosed in the park for the same reason for 3/2 at the same terms. And in default of of the rent of a cottage formerly of Thos de la Ree and afterwards of Ric de Wynnelwode because it is in the hand of the lady for 14d at the same terms, whereof the issue nothing. In default of the rent of Laurencecroft for the same reason at 6d pa, whereof the issue nothing. In default of the rent of a piece of land formerly of Robert Daveson for the same reason for 2d at the same terms, whereof the issue nothing. In default of rent of Rossleslond for the same reason at 12d, whereof the issue nothing. In default of a rent in Hontelond because it is in the hand of the lady for 12d, whereof the issue nothing.
Sum 11/10

Necessaries
And the mending of a close of Lymeputtesfield, which with one man for 8 days 2s [8d deleted] hired for 3d a day. And 2 carpenters hired for making a new gate called Lydeyat there for 2 days, 16d. In spreading of molehills in Severnmede 6d. In 2 men hired for making a new close around the old garden for 10 days 5s [6/8 deleted] taken at 3d a day. In felling and carrying brushwood and sallies for the same work. [in men hired for work in the garden in the presence of the lady, which with 1 man for 30 days and a half 10/6 taken by the day 4d deleted]. In 2 men enclosing a hedge between the kitchen and deer leap of the park for 5 days and a half 2/6 [3/8 deleted] taken as above. In the carriage of brushwood for the same work 16d. [In 2 locks for 2 chests of the lady 10d because they are in the lady’s chamber. In 1 pot of tar bought for smearing trees wickedly eaten by rabbits 8d].
Sum 14/8

Upkeep of the house
In the stipend of William the carpenter making and putting sills for the walls all around the large grange for 2 weeks 4s. In stipend of Roger Carpenter helping the same for 4 days 16d. In carrying 4 wagon loads of rods and studs to the grange for the wall of the same 16d. In 4 men hired for 2 days for weaving the wall with the said rods, each taken at 3d a day [4d deleted]. [in 2 men carrying manure out of the stable and cleaning of the grange and curia in the month of July 3/8. deleted]. In the stipend of William Carpenter for making 1 new door to the stable and amending other needful things within the curia for 2 days 8d.
Sum 9/4.

Upkeep of the park
[In 10 men hired for making a close around the new copse within the park for 3 days 10s, each taken at 3d a day. And in 6 men working about the same for 2 days, 4s. In 7 men hired for the same for 1 day, 2/4, taken as above (deleted) because it is in the account of the treasurer of the household and because he is not charged with money taken from the wood of the same copse]. And in 8 men hired for felling 25 trees for the pale of the park and stripping them for thus having the bark for 2 weeks, 14/8, each taken for 22d a week. In the stipend of 3 men sawing and cleaving the said trees for 2 weeks, 10s, each taken at 20d a week. And in carrying 68 wagon loads of the same timber from the wood of Earmwood to the park 28/4, given for a wagon load 5d. In felling and trimming 5 score rails for the new pale at 5s the task. In making holes in the same 6/8 the task, given for each ¾d. In 6 men hired for paling, raising and making firm the said timber for 10 days 20s, each taken 4d a day. In 4 men about the work for 5 days and a half, 7/4 taken as above. In 4 men about the work for 5 days, 6/8. In 3 men about the same for 4 days 4s, taken as above. In 4 men making a new deer leap for 1 day, 16d. In mending a gate of the park towards Arley 4d. In 2 men hired for making a new gate above the water of Borle called Wateryate for 1 week, 4s. In two men mending the ways through the various places in the park for safe transport of the timber for the pale for 1 day, 8d. In mending a certain way within the park for safe carriage of hay from Highley to Earnwood beyond the house of William Aston with 4 men for 1 day [16d deleted] 12d. And in the stipend of William Carpenter mending the old pale of the park for 1 week 20d. in 4 men hired for the breaking and removal of 8 rails of the new pale of repairing and replacing the flow of water for 2 days 2s [8d deleted]. In ivy/yew? brouse cut for the sustenance of the deer in winter with 2 men for 8 days, each one taken for 2d a day, 2/8
Sum 115/11

Mowing
And in mowing in the meadow of Severnmede 3/6 a thrave. In spreading grass, lifting and collecting hay nothing because done by the customary workers. In carrying 9 wagon loads of hay from Severnmede to the curia 2/3 given for a wagon load 3d. In help taking the said hay into the barn and stacking there [4d deleted].
Sum 5/9

Wage
And in the wage of Jervan, parker and bailiff there 60/8 for the year, taking 2d for the day.
Sum 60/8

Outside Expenses
In the various food bought for the use of the men helping with the taking of roe deer before Easter 8/2, to wit in nread 4/6, in ale 3/- and in fish 8d. And in expenses of 2 men with 3 horses taking 7 deer to the lord King going and returning for 1 week 9/2. In 1 horse hired for the carriage of the same 2/4, taken by the day 4d. In carrying barrels from Earnwood (because they are in the account of the household) to Bewdley 8d. And paid to William Monk, former servant, there from ?[black] his payment in arrears from the time he was removed for the price of 4 bushels of wheat 4s. [This section deleted].

Payment of money.
And paid to the lord William Aston, treasurer, by 1 tally, 106s
And paid to the same lord William Aston, £9 20d
[deleted because he does not show a tally]
Sum 106s

Sum of all the expenses and payments £16-4-2. And he owes £12-5-9½ . Of which is allowed to the same 16/10 from expenses made against Eater about taking of deer within his bailiwick and carriage of 7 deer from Earmwood to Langley to the lord King by the cost of the wardrobe payment disallowed above for the default of warrant. And allowed to the same 7/4 from various petitions touching his account, whereof 4s for the stipend of William Monk being behind, whereof he did not have allowance before. And he owes £10-17-7 ½ which he paid Geoffrey- receiver at the account without tally and whereof the receiver is charged in the foot of his account of this year. And thus he withdraws quit.

Oxen
The same answers for 3 oxen from remainders of the preceding account.
Sum 3
From which he paid to the lord William Aston, the lady’s treasurer, for haulage at Bewdley by a tally in the month of October 2 oxen. And he paid Thomas Grom, bailiff of Bernes, in the month of May by 1 tally.
And there remains 1 oxen [deleted].

Cows
And for 1 cow from the remainders of the preceding account. And from 1 arising from the heriot of Wm de Wolfhale in the month of January before one milking.
Sum 2
From which he paid 1 cow to the treasurer by the hand of Thomas atte Yate for the larder of the lady in the month of October.
And there remains 1 cow.

Calf
And for 1 calf from the issue of the said cow from the heriot.
Sum 1. And it is sold below.
And equal.
Piglets appear below.

Ploughing works
And for 12 ploughing works from 6 customary tenants, of which each will plough in the winter season for 1 day and in the Lent season of 1 day, price of ploughing 4d.
Sum 12 ploughing works. And they are sold within.
And equal.

Harvest works
And for 21 harvest works arising from 7 customary tenants, of which each will reap the lady’s corn for 3 days, price of a work 1½d. And for 6 works by custom from the Prior of Malvern.
Sum 27
Thus he accounts in default of works of a tenement formerly of John Osebari 3 works. And in spreading grass, raising and collecting hay 14 works.
And equal.

Hay
And for 29 wagon loads of hay from the remainders. And for 9 wagons loads of hay received from the yeild of Severnmede. And for 30 wagon loads of hay received from Thos Longmore, reeve of Arley and for 11 wagon loads of hay received from John Arderne, reeve of Highley.
Sum 79 wagon loads of hay.
From which he accounts in expenses of the deer in winter 4 wagon loads of hay. In expenses of the horses of the lady and of others coming to the lady’s household this year 25 wagon loads of hay.
And there remains 50 wagon loads of hay.

And 3 piglets arising by custom after the death of William Wolfhale.
Sum 3.
And there remain 3 piglets.

And for 1 brass dish by custom after the death of William Wolfhale as appears by the court roll.
Sum 1 brass dish. And he paid it to the wardrobe of the lady for the lady’s kitchen.
And equal.