Michelmersh Charter | Saxon Romsey

Michelmersh Charter c985 (S857)
Mary Harris 2021

The description of the bounds of Michelmersh given in the Charter granted by King Ethelred the Unready to his 'friend' Aelfer∂:

Ærest of Terstan upp on Iww cumb; of Iwwa cumbe on wænhyrste; of wænhyrste on ∂one ealde iw; ∂onone of ∂on iwe to Lullan setle; of Lullan setle to beocera gente; of beocera gente to horsweges heale; of horsweages heale to æppen lega; of hæppen lege to Higsolon; of Higsolon on fæstan ac; of fæstan ac on feora burnan æwylman; of feora burnan to ceomman bricge; of ceomman bricge to wyrtwalun; up be wyrtwalun o∂ Cerswyll; of Cæorswylle up to ∂am ellene; of ∂am ellene to populfinige; of populfinige to Lambhyrste; of Lambhyrste to huntan wican; ∂onone eft on Terstan.1

Only a few of the landmarks mentioned in the charter are identifiable now. However, it is clear that the boundary starts and ends at the Test and also that, part way round, the boundary uses the Fairbourne and the Cressbrook. This is sufficient to suggest that the area enclosed was similar to the later parish of Michelmersh (known from the earliest map of 1774), except that it did not include Awbridge to the west of the Test. If the 18th century boundary is accepted where there is no other information, the description of the boundary can be mapped. On the east the boundary of Michelmersh coincides with the boundary of Slackstead which is described in a charter from 900AD (S306). Unfortunately the marker points are not the same. The boundary walker would have been walking in the opposite direction so this is not really surprising. On the south the Romsey charter of c.970 (S812). and the Ticcensfeld charter of c.920 (S381) are also useful in confirming that the line of the boundary was much the same as the 18th century parish boundary with only one significant change. Grid references are given for each point but, of course, many are estimated and could be anywhere along that stretch of the boundary.

1. Ærest of Terstan upp on Iww cumb; First from the Test up at Yew coombe 433975,1279

The boundary starts at the Test and we would expect it to go clockwise/sunwise around the estate so it is probable that the description starts in the north of the parish where the modern parish boundary leaves the Test. There is a very clear wide valley at this point with a number of yew trees. Rumble transcribes this as 'ipp', but the only feasable translation of 'ipp' is 'raised place' which doesn't make sense with coombe. This charter contains a large number of wynns (ƿ) but this is the first occurrence. Therefore it might have been transcribed wrongly, with the scribe only recognising the character when he saw more examples. There are still some yew trees along the valley which makes the translation 'yew' more likely.

2. of Iwwa cumbe on wænhyrste; from Yew coombe to wagonhurst 434979,127657

The reference to a wagon suggests there is a route or trackway here but it might just refer to where wood and timber was cut to make wagons. 'Hurst' usually refers to a clearing in woodland, often on a hill. At the least this tells us that some of the woodland here had been cleared. The top of the hill would then provide a clear view. The area is now wooded. The point was probably the top of the hill.

3. of wænhyrste on ∂one ealde iw; from wagonhurst to the old yew tree. 436215,126940

Using a single tree as a marker suggests that this area had been at least partly cleared for pasture forming wood pasture. The line of the 18th century boundary makes a distinct turn at this point so it would have needed a marker.

4. ∂onone of ∂on iwe to Lullan setle; then from the yew to Lulla's dwelling 436932,127547

In this area the 18th century boundary curves back towards the SE, so again a marker is needed. It is unusual for a dwelling to be on a boundary where it was isolated. However, the presence a of a dwelling in this position suggests that the centre of the estate was fully used. Lulla is a recorded Anglo-Saxon name but there is no reference to a Lulla in this area. Lulla is a monothematic name, a diminuitive or nick name. This suggests a low status individual who might live on the edge of the estate.

After allocating this location to Lulla's dwelling it was discovered that there are crop marks recorded for Hampshire at this point which seem to form a rectangular enclosure.

5. of Lullan setle to beocera gente; from Lulla's dwelling to beekeepers' gate. 437782,127249

This reference to beekeepers seems reasonable for this area which is likely to have been reasonably open or woodland edge. Again, after allocating this point, it was discovered that the Ordnance Survey surveyor who checked this boundary line in the 19th century recorded a lane called Honey Lane here - 'gente' is probably a misreading for 'geate' meaning 'gate'. The reference to a gate might imply a routeway but might just refer to a gate into an enclosure protecting the bee hives.

from the Michelmersh Remark Book TNA OS 26/4419

6. of beocera geate to horsweges heale; from beekeepers' gate to horseway's corner/turning 437992,127127

A horseway suggests a path larger than a footpath but not necessarily a road. 'Heale' can mean 'corner' or 'angle' and the boundary along Honey Lane meets the Horseway at an angle. Placing this point where the 18th century boundary meets the road to Baileys Down would make the horseway the route from the Roman road near Farley Mount down through Braishfield to Bunny Lane and down to the N-S route along the Test Valley and a possible crossing of the Test.

7. of horsweages heale to æppen lega; from horseway corner to aspen lea. 438389,127569

'æppen' is a problem. It has been translated as 'aspen' but that should be written 'æsphan'. However, there is an example in the charter boundaries of Tichborne (actually Cheriton and Beauworth) and Kilmeston where the same place is described as 'æpphangran' and 'æpshangran' and is translated as 'the hanging wood of aspens'.

We seem to have a reference to a particular type of tree and 'lea' means clearing or open pasture land - so again a suggestion of wood and pasture.

There is a Taeppen Lea mentioned in the Slackstead charter which Grundy suggests is the same point. However, it is impossible to place this point on the shared boundary between Michelmersh and Slackstead unless the boundaries have changed a very great deal, so it is more likely that they are different places. Moreover, Taeppen Lea makes more sense translated as 'tape' or 'ribbon' lea than as a corruption of 'to aeppen lea' and can be located on the SE boundary of Slackstead. [see notes on Slackstead charter.]

8. of hæppen lege to Higsolon; from aspen lea to hay mire. 438543,127458

'hig' means hay; 'sol' means muddy place or mire or possibly dark. A reference to hay means that this area should be meadow and mire suggests wet, at least at times. This suggests water meadows. These would be common in the Test Valley or around the Fairbourne and Cressbrook but would not be specific enough for a boundary marker.'Muddy hay meadow' seems less likely here on the boundary with Slackstead which is on the chalk but if there were one it would be a distinctive area. Maybe there was an unusual wet area here since there are lenses of clay on the edge of the chalk. However, there is no visible wet or muddy area visible now. The point has been placed where a slight valley crosses the 18th century boundary.

9. of Higsolon on fæstan ac; from hay mire to firm oak tree. 438212,126951

The reference to a 'firm oak' like the reference to the old yew suggests a fairly open landscape of wood pasture.There is a 'firm oak' mentioned on the Slackstead boundary but it is not possible to match the two despite the charters only being 85 years apart. Firm oaks may not have been that uncommon and in a wood pasture environment would make good boundary markers. This point is where three parishes met in the 18th century, but the Romsey and Ampfield charters suggest that the boundary took a slightly different line in Saxon times heading further south before turning westwards to the Fairbourne.

10. of fæstan ac on feora burnan æwylman; from firm oak to the spring of Fairbourne

438499,126719

This is the first point that can be clearly identified. Although there are several springs which could be regarded as the spring of the Fairbourne the most likely one is clearly identified by the description on the Ticcensfeld Charter as 'at the head of the boundary dene'. Modern spelling suggests that the name Fairbourne, which is still used for this stream, could mean 'clear stream'. However, the Old English word means 'far or distant stream'. The Fairbourne is not a large stream but is used as a boundary along several lengths of the Michelmersh, Slackstead and Romsey boundaries. The 'boundary dene' is shown very clearly by the LiDAR image and is along the line of the boundary between enclosed and unenclosed land as shown on the 1588 map of Hursley parish.

11. of feora burnan to ceomman bricge; from Fairbourne to crowman's bridge. 437230,124049

This used to be identified as Kimbridge but this is not possible partly because it is too far from the Test in the boundary description and also because Kimbridge was definitely King's Bridge in origin. A more convincing suggestion is that the word 'ceo' in OE meant jackdaw, crow or rook and that Rook bridge later became corrupted to Crook Bridge. Crook Bridge still exists by the Dog and Crook pub near Crook Hill. 'crowman' could possibly be a nickname.

The Dog and Crook at Braishfield

12. of ceomman bricge to wyrtwalun; from crowman's bridge to root wall. 436899,124755

'wyrt walun' should mean 'root of the wall' or 'root wall' or even something running along a contour. There are a number of hollow ways in the area where the tree roots are very visible in the side of the bank along the lane.However, this should be in the same area as the 'rough dyke' mentioned in the Romsey charter. It is possible that they refer to the same place.

13. up be wyrtwalun o∂ Cerswyll; up by root wall to the spring of Cress Brook 436634,125252

'Up' suggests going up hill at this point to the spring feeding the Cress Brook. The 18th century parish boundary does turn north along a stream to its origin by Sharpe's Farm. This is close to Casbrook Common (the name was originally applied to an area to the east of the rough ground now (in the 21st century) known as Casbrook Common). It is difficult to be sure which of the streams was the original 'Cressbrook' but the one rising at Sharpe's Farm fits the 18th century boundary best.

14. of Cæorswylle up to ∂am ellene; from Cress well up to the elder tree. 436590,125572

Again the word 'up' means that the boundary is going uphill which at this point means heading northwards. The'elder tree' is another reference to one particular tree suggesting an area of open wood pasture. Pinpointing the exact position of this tree is now impossible but the point must be up hill from the Cress Well.

15.of ∂am ellene to populfinige; from the elder tree to 'populfinige'. 436248,125748

'populfinige'' is another difficult word to translate. It has been suggested that it refers to poplars, but Della Hooke considers it cannot refer to poplar trees. It could mean 'a heap of pebbles'. Along the north side of the 18th century Timsbury/Michelmersh border is a field called Pepperlands which could be a corruption of poplars or pebbles. A heap of pebbles could be a cairn but these are not common in the Hampshire landscape. It could be a Bronze Age burnt mound of pebbles which is possible in this area. However, a little to the south of the 18th century boundary is the hill called Popley Hill. When climbing this hill it becomes suddenly noticeable that instead of the soil being chalky and full of large, lumpy, flint nodules, the top of the hill is covered with small rounded river pebbles. This is even more noticeable where the land is ploughed. This feature is so distinctive it seems likely it could be used as a boundary mark.

16. of populfinige to Lambhyrste; from 'pebble hill' to the clearing of the lambs. 436149,126399

'hurst' usually refers to a clearing in woodland, often on the top of a hill. However, a place for lambs would need to be reasonably sheltered. The turn of the Michelmersh/Timsbury boundary in the 18th century is situated at a wide shallow bowl of land sheltered from west, north, and east which would be suitable for a lamb flock. This reference to lambs suggests that sheep farming was already established in this area in Saxon times. Michelmersh Manor Farm did keep a large flock of sheep in the Middle Ages, keeping the breeding ewes and lambs at Michelmersh and taking the castrated wethers to the more exposed site at Houghton. The site of Lambshurst could be anywhere along the 18th century boundary from the sheltered bowl to the farm called Hillfields.

17. of Lambhyrste to huntan wican; from Lambshurst to hunter's wych elm. 434902,125792

'wic' refers to a farm of single purpose or an enclosure and this could be the farm of a hunter. However, the dative of wic is wice not wican - 'wican' means wych elm so this should mean the wych elm of the hunter. The suggestion that 'hunta' means a type of spider is not likely as it is only known to occur once with this meaning, in an Anglo-Saxon riddle. The hunter's tree could be anywhere but since the next point is the Test it was probably somewhere where the Test was visible. This could be at the top of the ridge near the old farm called Hillfields.

It is probably just a coincidence that the farm just along the lane from here has been called Hunts Farm since the 18th century. The name Hunt or Hont occurs in village records from the 17th century.

18. ∂onone eft on Terstan; then again to the Test. 433225,125163

The boundary between Timsbury and Michelmersh from Rudd Lane to the Test was not actually demarcated until 1796 when the common was enclosed. Before then the land on both sides of the boundary was common pasture used by both parishes. The boundary in 1796 was drawn on a straight line from Rudd Lane to the Test. In theory this was where it always went although there was no ditch or bank marking it.

Suggested line of the whole boundary showing LiDAR topography where available.