Footpath ground

Footpath Ground

A field of Longcroft Farm

 

Footpath Ground (Parcel 1101) was a field of Longcroft Farm. It was so-named because it was part of a continuous footpath from Yeovil to Yeovil Marsh and eventually to Ilchester by ancient footpaths and lanes. It started at Kingston with Red Lion Lane, continued along Roping Path to Mudford Road. It then crossed the road and entered a large field called Green Cross. As it continued across Green Cross, the footpath became known as Hillon Path and is referred to in the Terrier of 1589.

In 1816 Longcroft Farm, including Footpath Ground, was let to Henry Guppy, known as Harry. However, in April 1816, Harry was being held as a 'Prisoner for Debt' in the King's Bench Prison, Surrey, awaiting his case to be heard at the Guildhall, Westminster during the following month.

The 1846 Tithe Apportionment recorded that Footpath Ground was owned by Lord of Kingston Manor, William Jones Prowse, who had inherited huge land holdings in the area. The farm, at this time, was let to James Tucker. Footpath Ground was described as pasture for grazing livestock and measured 5a 1r 3p.

During the 1860s, a Mr Sawtell was the tenant farmer. During the 1870s Robert Chard farmed Longcroft Farm, and during this period the farm was afflicted with a foot & mouth disease outbreak. In June 1879, Chard was declared a bankrupt. The next tenant farmer was William Hardy. By January 1908 Hardy had died and was followed, certainly between 1910 and 1921, by Herbert James Pearce.

During the early 1920s Longcroft Farm went through a series of auction sales and sales by private treaty. Footpath Ground (Parcel 1101) was sold off separately from the farm. 

Footpath Ground (Parcel 1101) was bounded on the south by Combe Street Lane, to the west by Great Nobles Nap (Parcel 1100), to the north by Summerleaze (Parcel 1114), Smoke Acre Orchard (Parcel 1113) and Coppice (1) (Parcel 1102) that had been carved out of its north-eastern corner. To the east it was bounded by West Leaze (Parcel 1103).

Today, the southern edge is occupied by modern housing of Combe Street Lane.

 

For details on historic land measurement (ie acres, roods and perches) click here.

 

Map


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