Yeovil's Virtual Museum

Horse Leaze

A field on the banks of the River Yeo

 

Horse Leaze (Parcel 830), was a large field on the banks of the River Yeo. 'Leaze', from Old English lēa, is a synonymous term for a pasture, often in earlier times it was common land on which manorial or farm tenants could pasture their livestock. In this instance however, it simply refers to land on which horses were pastured.

At the time of the 1846 Tithe Apportionment, Horse Leaze was owned by George Harbin and let to William Pope as part of Newton Farm. It was recorded as pasture for grazing livestock and measured 11a 1r 0p.

Horse Leaze (Parcel 830) was bordered on the west by Hanging Sleight (Parcel 828) and Grove (Parcel 827), on the north by Cowleaze (Parcel 837) and Ten Acres (Parcel 833), on the east by Great Rough Mead (Parcel 831) and Little Rough Mead (Parcel 832) and to the south by the River Yeo.

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

 

This map, based on the descriptions in the 1589 Terrier and the 1846 Tithe Map of Yeovil shows the approximate boundaries of the Manors of Kingston and Hendford as well as the manorial three-field system used in Kingston.

 

TThe 1842 Tithe Map showing the Newton Surmaville Estate shaded mid-green and the parcels of Newton Farm shaded light green. Horse Leaze (Parcel 830) is at centre right.