The Amateur Historian Volume 7 Number 8 November 1967

By Ramsey, A.R.J.

pp 250-252

Short article which shows how place-names such as '-bridge' and '-ford' indicate the locations of important river and stream crossings, which, the author argues, may represent the places used in the Saxon period and around the time of the Norman Conquest. He suggests that if such crossings are included in place-names they are likely to have very ancient origins (see also 07 05 146-148; 07 06 192-195; 08 01 16-21).

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By Micklewright, F.H. Amphlett

pp 253-257

Discussion of the effects of the Reformation at local level, including the argument that the process took a considerable time to penetrate the remoter parts of Britain. This, it is suggested, meant that there were, unofficially, Catholic vicars and churches well into the later 16th century. The author also asserts that the Reformation was not solely a religious revolution, but was part of a longer-standing evolution which had important social and economic causes.

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By Harley, J.B.

pp 265-274

Tithe maps were produced only in the mid-19th century, whereas enclosure maps may date from as early as the 17th century and were very common in the later 18th century. Both represent a rich source of landscape and other historical information and in places where both exist they may be used in conjunction to provide an image of change over time. The author gives a bibliography of sources and information about their locations. Enclosure maps included maps of arable fields and meadows as well as those of waste lands. The mapping of arable and meadow may be of special importance in reconstructing earlier landscapes and may show, for example, field strips in fine detail. Tithe maps represented the earliest large-scale surveys of the country and include both plans and - in the accompanying apportionment - written details, including information on owners, occupiers, descriptions of land use, field names and acreages. Problems with tithe and enclosure maps are discussed in the article. These include ambiguities in cartographic technique, confusing or uncertain terminology, and surveying variations, and Harley therefore suggests that when using them the local historian should correlate them with other sources of evidence, attempt to establish the methodology which was in the mind of the original surveyor and cartographer, and be conscious of the purpose for which the original was prepared. Cross-referencing with modern maps is one way of testing accuracy (see also 07 06 196-208; 07 07 223-231; 08 02 61-71; 08 03 86-97; 08 05 167-179).