Pound Common Field

Pound Common Field from Dalby's map of Hurst manor, 1723
(click the map for the field in 1840)

The need for a pound or pinfold arose because of the medieval open field system of farming, when large areas were not protected from stray animals by fences. Livestock could cause a great deal of damage to unprotected crops.

The pound was normally kept by the lord of the manor who would appoint an official to ensure stray animals were caught and confined. Owners of the livestock would be summoned to the manor court and were often fined for their negligence.

Pound Common Field after the enclosure, 1840
(Click the map for the field in 2000)

When the tithe map was made in 1840, Pound Common Field is shown as being divided into smaller fields having several owners.

Unfortunately this map cannnot be reproduced here for copyright reasons. View a similar map. Pound Common Field in 1723

By the end of the 20th century, Pound Common Field had become a housing estate.
© Ordnance Survey

Hurst Park Road, formerly part of Pound Field

References in main text:

      XI   Commuting (2)