Yeovil's Virtual Museum

Thorney Bush

A former part of the great West Field of Kingston Manor

 

Originally a large sub-field, probably a common field, within the great medieval West Field of Kingston Manor. By the end of the eighteenth century it had been broken up into several smaller parcels of which one retained the name Thorney Bush. This was still a fairly large field lying alongside the northern side of a field access track called Lower Larkhill Lane (which would become today's Stiby Road).

In his will of 1761, linen draper of the Borough and Hendford Robert Glisson left all his lands, including Larkhill, French Grass Ground, Thorney Bush, Fir Tree Ground, New Close and Three Marle Grounds (Marle Close), to his four daughters - Betty the wife of Richard Manning, Mary the wife of John Wright, Sarah Glisson and Martha Glisson - although ensuring payments from the produce of the rents went to his widow Betty for her life. By 1777, the lands were held by Robert Glisson's daughter Mary, wife of John Wright. In a Lease for a Year of 1777, Mary leased the lands to her brothers-in-law Richard Manning of Culmstock, Devon, and Robert Winter of Sherborne, Dorset, who had married Sarah Glisson in 1767 (after her father's will). Although Martha had married Thomas Andrews in 1764, neither are mentioned in documentation referring to the lands, since Martha had died in 1767, aged 37.  

By the time of the 1846 Tithe Apportionment Thorney Bush had been further split into two; Parcels 1419 and 1420, both still called Thorney Bush. The Apportionment noted Parcel 1419 as 4a 1r 5p and used as arable land and that the owner was John Winter and the tenant Joseph Brook. Parcel 1420 was 4a 1r 20p and used as pasture for grazing animals. It was owned by John Moody and the tenant was Samuel Dodd.

Thorney Bush was bounded to the north by Higher Larkhill (Parcel 1415), to the east by Great Larkhill (Parcel 1418) to the south by Larkhill Lane (today's Larkhill Road) and to the east by Sealey's Mead (Parcel 1422).

Today the site of the former Thorney Bush is occupied by the houses and gardens of Springfield Road and Marl Close.

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.

 

A conjectural map of the great West Field of Kingston Manor showing ancient sub-fields, most likely common fields, within the overall bounds of West Field.

 

The Larkhill area reproduced from the 1842 Tithe Map. Thorney Bush is at centre bottom.

 

The 1946 aerial photograph - Thorney Bush is at centre with the newly-constructed Marl Close. Right of centre Coronation Avenue and Westfield Road run top to bottom. Across the centre Lower Larkhill Lane has been partially constructed as Stiby Road.

 

The same area today 'borrowed' from Google maps.

 

The 1842 Tithe Map superimposed (slightly out at the bottom) over a modern map.