Rode Common Boundary
1630 see perambulation of Selwood Forest
1763 see Court Leet
1773 see Andrews and Dury map
1792 see Rode Common enclosure map
1630 – Selwood Forest and County Boundary in the vicinity of Rode
The county boundary from Monkley Lane to Rode Hill also marked the boundary of the common
Extract from: an Article in the Wiltshire archaeological and natural history magazine vol.23 no.67-69 (1886-1887) pp289/290
Article Title: Selwood Forest. Author: Canon J. E. Jackson.
pp286/287: An Inquisition by a jury of landowners and tenants was then held at Longbridge Deverel, Saturday after Michaelmas, 16 Edw.II (AD 1322), whereby it was found that all the place names in the list following had once been within the forest, but were then no longer within the limits. (The names are here given in the original spelling of the document.) Langenham [Langham: at Road] Rode in Com: Wiltes [another part being in Somerset]. All the above had been disafforested
p289/290: The following depositions as to the extent of Selwood Forest appear to have been taken about A. D. 1620-30, when King Charles I was preparing the final disafforestation.
Imprimis. That ye begins at the higher end of Whitemarsh ………
From thence to a little Oake …. and so as the bounds of Westbury goeth to Rudge Lane and to the stone by the bridge there.
Then cometh in the bounde of North Bradley wh. beginneth from Rudge Lane end and goeth alonge by the Shire hedge Somerset and Wilts.
From thence unto a stone called ye Shire-stoue (stone) in Roade Heath, lying neere Greenclose (nos.481/2/3 on Rode tithe map) hedge, from thence to another shire-stone in the same heath that lyeth flatt North from the aforesaid stone; and then the bounds turn west along as the bank in that Heath goeth unto the top of Road hill unto another shire stone, and so alon West into Road street unto the bound-stone in the East side if Slatts-brook unto Otts meadow, though that meadow unto the shire-stone on the midst of Road bridge; from that bridge northwards on the East of Rode (river Frome) next unto Tellesford bridge, then northwards on the East side of the same Rine unto unto the furthest end of Peter Crooke’s meadow and so eastward unto the top of Vagg’s Hill as the bounds goe between the sd. P. Crooke’s and John Bissy’s, and then goeth Eastward unto a bound oak called Rumsey Oak. And from that oak Northeast unto Swine’s-brooke and from thencedown the broe East unto Acrefield.
The latter depositionwas given by Thomas Puckridge. (Parish registers show a Thomas Pockerige married c1600 who died in 1629 and his son Thomas baptised in 1611 who married in 1647.)
1763 Court Leet
A presentment made at the Court Leet held in and for the Manor aforesaid on Thursday the 28th day of April 1763 and in the Third Year of the Reign of George the Third King of Great Brittain etc. and the Court of Edward Andrews Esqr. Lord of the said Manor there held before William Corp Gent. Steward: “We Present the Bounds of the Common of Road and Langham to be from the Flint Stone at William Dowling’s Green Close Gate to a Flint Stone near White Stone lying in a Slabb and from thence to a Stone called the Grey Stone and from thence to a Stone where Meer Oak stood and from thence to Rumsey Oak now standing near Bissey’s Bushes and from thence round Vagg’s Hill to the Lane that Leads from Tellisford Bridge to Vagg’s Hill and from thence Down the other side of Vagg’s Hill and from thence to a House called Dixes and from thence up to Road Hill and from thence down to the River runing under Road Mill Bridge which said Lane is within the Manor of Road and Langham aforesaid.”
Rode Common customs
From the Court Leet 1763
First: We Present the Custom of the Common to be That no man shall Summer before he hath Wintered, nor Summer no more Cattle than he can Winter upon Commonable Ground.
Also: We Present that no Person shall Cutt Thorns in our Common before Michaelmas nor after Lady Day, but between those Two Feasts.
Also: We Present that no Person shall cutt Fern in our Common before Lady Day the latter (Old Stile) being in September nor yet before SunRising of the same Day.
Also: We Present that no Person shall cutt Fern in our Common that are Intruders or under Certificate.
Also: We Present the Bounds of the Common of Road and Langham to be from the Flint Stone at William Dowling’s Green Close Gate to a Flint Stone near White Stone lying in a Slabb and from thence to a Stone called the Grey Stone and from thence to a Stone where Meer Oak stood and from thence to Rumsey Oak now standing near Bissey’s Bushes and from thence round Vagg’s Hill to the Lane that Leads from Tellisford Bridge to Vagg’s Hill and from thence Down the other side of Vagg’s Hill and from thence to a House called Dixes and from thence up to Road Hill and from thence down to the River running under Road Mill Bridge which said Lane is within the Manor of Road and Langham aforesaid.
Also: We Present that the said Stone called the White Stone Doth part the Counties of Somerset and Wilts, and the said Flint set in the Slabb doth part the Lordships of Road and Langham and Southwick.
Also: We Present a Roadway through Green Meer, and through Mrs Tucker’s Hullwears, and Simon Tucker’s Hullwears to Mrs Pools Mills in Time of Highwater.
Also: We Present that no Person shall putt any more Sheep into our Common to Dry after their being washed, than they have a right to Feed in Proportion of their Ground they do Occupy upon Pain of Paying Six pence per Sheep for every one as shall be putt there contrary hereto.� And that there shall be no more than Two Sheep to an acre of Commonable Ground at Winter upon Pain of Paying Two shillings per Head for such over Stocking.
Also: We Present that no Person shall Order or Hire a Shepherd or Cowherd to keep or move about his Cattle upon our Common upon Pain of Paying Five Pounds
Also: We Do hereby Order Present and Agree That every Person having Commonable Ground and before he she or they shall putt out Cattle thereon shall Deliver a Note in Writing to the Bailiff or Reeve of the Common of the Number and Quality of the Cattle so to be putt forth and in Right of what Ground and if any Person shall take at Tack or by Purchase the Cattle of a Stranger to Departure upon the Common, every one so Offending in the Premises shall pay for every such Offence the Sum of Forty shillings
Also: We Present and Order that every Person who hath or shall Break the Common and made Pools for Water which are Dangerous to People Travelling that way shall upon Notice Fill up and Level the same, or for the Neglect every One shall Forfeit and Pay Forty shillings.
Also: We Do Order that every Person Keeping Geese shall Remove the same from off our Common by Midsummer next, or pay half a Crown for each Goose.
Also: We do Order that no Person shall cutt Thorns on our Common unless it be those having Commonable Ground and for making or mending the Bounds and Fences of such Commonable Ground on Pain of Twenty shillings per Load and so in Proportion
[Extract from “History of Some of the Old Buildings in Rode” by Dawna Pine, second edition]:
The farmhouse at Rode (Common) Farm on the Trowbridge Road across Rode Common is a detached Somerset Long House believed to date back in part to the 17th century. It is built of random stone with mullion windows.
