Long Close
Long Close
A field within the great manorial East Field
Long Close (Parcel 945), was originally a large field in the great medieval East Field of Kingston Manor.
The 1846 Tithe Apportionment noted that Long Close was in the ownership of Henry Goodford Esq. of Chilton Cantello and occupied by Mrs Phillis Coles, as part of Stone Farm at this time. The Tithe Apportionment shows Long Close was used as pasture for grazing livestock and measured 9a 2r 0p.
Long Close was bounded on the north by Spitt Croft (Parcel 944), on the east by Brickyard Lane (today's St Michael's Avenue) and on the south by Old Brickyard (Parcel 948). On the east it was bounded by Collins' Ground (Parcel 986), Briseham Hill (Parcel 946) and Spring Close (Parcel 947).
By the time of the 1946 aerial photograph, seen below, Long Close was still an open field with only its border with St Michael's Avenue having a couple of houses. Today, Long Close is mostly occupied by Bucklers Mead School and its western playing field.
For details on historic land measurement (ie acres, roods and perches) click here.
maps
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.
A map of the great medieval East Field of Kingston Manor showing conjectured locations of several fields based on descriptions in the 1589 Terrier.
This map, based on the Yeovil Tithe Map of 1842 and the Preston Plucknett Tithe Map of 1849, shows in yellow the parcels of land of Stone Farm that were technically in the Parish of Preston Plucknett and in pink are the parcels that were technically in the Parish of Yeovil.
Drawn from the 1846 Tithe Map with field names added from the 1846 Tithe Apportionment, with Long Close (Parcel 945) at centre.
The 1946 aerial survey photograph with parcel numbers of 1846 plotted on.
An aerial view (courtesy of Mr Google) of the area today.
The 1843 Tithe Map overlaid onto a modern map of the area.