Waste: Difference between revisions
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'''Waste''' was a generic term used after the [[Norman conquest]] to |
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refer to land which had formerly been cultivated |
refer to land which had formerly been cultivated |
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and settled but had fallen into neglect. Depopulated |
and settled but had fallen into neglect. Depopulated |
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-- first overgrown with grass, then with scrub and finally with trees. In some |
-- first overgrown with grass, then with scrub and finally with trees. In some |
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cases the waste was a deliberate policy, either |
cases the waste was a deliberate policy, either |
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of the overlord of the land, or of the |
of the overlord of the land, or of the [[tenant]]s who |
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simply moved away. In others settlements simply failed, and no-one bothered to |
simply moved away. In others settlements simply failed, and no-one bothered to |
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keep them up. Some, of course, became waste when [[William I]]'s army was engaged |
keep them up. Some, of course, became waste when [[William I]]'s army was engaged |
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a generic term in the [[Domesday Book]], |
a generic term in the [[Domesday Book]], |
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when it served as a rationale for reduced or lost |
when it served as a rationale for reduced or lost |
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income, |
income, either at the time of [[Edward the Confessor|King Edward]] or subsequently. |
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Latest revision as of 12:17, 13 October 2004
Waste was a generic term used after the Norman conquest to refer to land which had formerly been cultivated and settled but had fallen into neglect. Depopulated and discarded, the land reverted to wilderness -- first overgrown with grass, then with scrub and finally with trees. In some cases the waste was a deliberate policy, either of the overlord of the land, or of the tenants who simply moved away. In others settlements simply failed, and no-one bothered to keep them up. Some, of course, became waste when William I's army was engaged in suppressing rebellions.
The phrase became more commonplace when it was used as a generic term in the Domesday Book, when it served as a rationale for reduced or lost income, either at the time of King Edward or subsequently.
