The Local Historian Volume 10 Number 1 February 1972

By George Redmonds

A study of West Riding surnames and their links with local place-names, including reference to 'lost' villages which have given risen to specific and highly-localised surnames. Examples are used to show how the rare and distinctive names Beecroft and Grymmoth were derived from 14th and 15th century place-names.

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By Peter Roebuck

The article describes the content and format of property leases and tenancy documents, categories of material which are readily-available in record offices and which are very numerous and bulky, but which (perhaps for the latter reason) have not been fully exploited by historians. The type of information which they contain is discussed and the following major themes are considered; i) detailed descriptions of the property concerned in the deeds or leases; ii) the identity of previous tenants; iii) the length of tenure and the amount of rent; iv) the terms or conditions of payment and of the lease itself; v) local customary clauses, relating to matters such as services and boons; vi) farming practices and techniques specified in the leases or tenancy agreements; vii) clauses concerning mineral resources, mineral rights and their exploitation; and viii) any tax obligations written into the agreements.

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By C.M. Law

A study of population statistics and the process of urbanisation in the 18th century, emphasising the close relationship which is identified between urban development and economic growth. The author suggests a number of accessible sources which might be of value in estimating urban population: i) local censuses, a considerable number of which survive although complete and detailed records are rare (Carlisle, for example, was particularly well covered) and some surviving records do show clearly the effect of inoculation on death rates; ii) ecclesiastical surveys: diocesan enquiries which were conducted relatively frequently in most dioceses, and which included coverage of 'parish demography' - although returns are variable these sources may be especially valuable in looking at demographic patterns over a district; iii) parish records, and in particular parish registers or statistical information which is derived from them, are especially valuable in giving details of the number and rates of baptism, marriage and burial and may be a useful guide to estimating local population figures; iv) house counts and household listings, which were often compiled as part of the assessments for tax liability and can be used as a basis for estimating population size. In the article the author defines urban settlements as being places with 2500 persons or more and uses the above sources to create a series of urban population estimates for the years 1770 and 1775. The figures suggest the importance of large county towns, places connected with the textile industry, resorts such as spas, and ports.

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By A.R. Williams

A review and analysis of travellers' accounts of travels in Gloucestershire in the 18th and early 19th centuries. It is suggested that they show valuable evidence for agrarian and industrial change, with important descriptions of places and local characteristics, as well as 'phenomena'. However, Williams acknowledges that many such descriptions have inherent weaknesses as a historical source, because of their lack of objectivity and accuracy. He suggests that they are useful 'social' sources. Among the travellers whose writings he considers are Celia Fiennes, Daniel Defoe, Arthur Young, Fanny Burney and William Cobbett.