The origins of this tenement are obscure, since the only records that have been identified are the land tax and the tithe apportionment. When the commons in Barcombe were enclosed by agreement between the lord and the tenants in 1574 George Goring, as lord of the manor of Barcombe, retained a part of Marvell Common in his own hands. He was to have 'all the common or place or waste called Marvill surrounded by water and severed from the rest of the common of Marvill' (23). That description suits this holding which abuts the Iron river to the east (the parish boundary) and the Ouse to the west.

P113/10

2007 The Old Butcher's Shop, 1-3 The Chestnuts (TA 898.5, 901.5)

NB. Later evidence makes it clear that Henry Austen owned TA 901.5. The tithe apportionment incorrectly attributes the number William Adams but in fact his property was TA 901.

The copyhold grant at Barcombe Cross is a typical example of an enclosure from the manorial waste; typically a long narrow strip of land adjacent to a highway. In common with others of the smaller tenements at Barcombe Cross is served at some time as the poor house.

The cottage in Birdshole Lane, described as 'late Handlye Common' is unusual. Leasehold tenements are rare and ill-recorded in the court books. Although there was a dwelling on the land in Birdshole Lane in 1686 the house site had been abandoned by 1800 and the dwelling had not been replaced in 1840. A new house was built sometime between c1880 and 1891.

Tithe Data

Boat House Mead

1841 Census

Tenement Analysis

Buildings

Archaeology

Old Maps

Further Information