Apurtenance

Bailiwick

Holt

Heineholt

Hundred

Wick

Farm – In the medieval period the fee-farm of a borough was the annual sum due the exchequer in return for the king allowing the ‘farmer’ to administer its sources of revenue, which might include property rents and taxes and local tolls. A ‘farm’ was a pre-determined lump-sum amount assessed for one year and a ‘farmer’ the person charged with its collection. Before the period of self-government, boroughs were farmed by local wealthy townsmen (and, in Southampton, sometimes their wife or widow), county sheriffs, reeves or entrepreneurs; the aim was to be able to make a profit from the revenues beyond the amount due for the farm, and this could result in extortionate measures. Hence the desire of the townsmen to acquire the farm for themselves, which necessitated taking the reins of local administration.

Tithe

Burgess

Liberty

Perambulation

Chantry

Demesnes

Freeman – Domesday

Free man – Domesday

Units of length eg acre, chain etc

Assart

Stipend

Causeway

Half year land

Lammas land

Hide (eg King’s Hide)

Expeditation – As part of Forest Law, dogs living within the Forest of Essex were subject to ‘expeditation’ – cutting off three toes on one foot to prevent them chasing deer. In practice this was often just another means of collecting a fine or fee for not carrying out the mutilation.

Oppidum – a fortified and defended Iron Age settlement

Coupe

Stool