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Haying thus found our earliest record in agreement with the statements
of living witnesses, we will see whether in the intermediate period the
evidence is as favorable.
The principal points to bear in mind are:—
(1) Is there evidence of the exercise of Lammas Eights of Pasture
over any lands.
(2) The identification of the lands subject to any such Eights and
(3) Who are the persons entitled to exercise the Eights.
In olden times the expressions, land and common fields, usually had
reference to Arable land; and the expressions, commons, meadow, mead or
pasture, to grass land, and the wastes of the Manor.
The first reference which can be attributed to the Town Meadows occurs
in the Court Rolls in A.D. 1418, in the shape of a presentment, that the
Lord of the Manor ought to mend Stanbrigge, leading to Fulham Mead.
Stanley Bridge, which is no doubt a corruption of Stanbrigge, is close to
lands belonging to the Gas Company, formerly part of the Town Meadows.
In A.D. 1480, there is a presentment that John Cokerick put sheep upon
the "Common callod the Marsh," to the common nuisance.
In A.D. 1483, Thomas Foot put more horses than he ought upon the
Common of the Lord's Tenants in Fulham Marsh.
In A.D. 1508 and 1509, Common of Pasture of all the Lord's Tenants
in the Common Fields is several times spoken of.
In A.D. 1525, it is ordered that no inhabitant or other shall common in
the Commons beyond his proper quantity, pointing to a stint or regulation
as to the number each person might turn out.
Iu A .D. 1541, an order is made by the Homage that between the 2nd
February and 1st August, no Tenant shall keep any cattle on the fields,
except upon their own lands. That amounts to saying that, between the
1st August, which according to the old style was Lammas Day, and the
2nd February they could do so.
In the same year every Tenant in Charlow Mead is ordered to make a
sufficient fence there according to his holding. That would mean each
Tenant must erect a fence between his piece of land and the adjoining
Common Field, so as to prevent cattle straying into the corn.
On reference to Schedule I., it will seem that part of the Town Meadows
is now known as Charley Meade.
In A.D. 1545, a man is ordered to remove his dung which lay in the
Highway leading to Town Meade. Here 344 years ago is a clear statement
of the existence of land known as the Town Meade.
In 1548, the Homage order that no Tenant, Customary or Free, shall
common with more beasts than their proper number.
In A.D. 1553, and again in 1560, persons having trees on either side of a
lane leading from the Common Meade to Wandon (Walham) Green are
ordered to lop them, and reference is made to the Lord's Meadow called
Charlow Meadow.
In 1566, persons inhabiting witheut the Parish, are forbidden to common
in Wormholt Wood.
In A.D. 1605, the persons having meadow ground in Charlow Meade are
ordered by the Homage to scour the drain there, and to contribute to the
making of a gate.
All persons are forbidden to turn nogs into the Common Fields, Meadows,
or Commons.
There are numerous regulations and presentments about this period,
frequently referring to the inhabitants of Fulham as being entitled to
Eights of Common in the Common Fields, Commons and Meadows.