Beddingham Roads and Drove Ways

The evidence of John Baker of Beddingham, aged 72, respecting the Tenantry roads and Drove Ways in the said parish. Was born and lived in the parish 'till he was 20 years of age, then left it for about 10 years. Then returned and has lived there ever since. Remembers the Road (No 1 as per map) leading from Cobb Place to the Narrow Way Buildings formerly called the Way Pit Lane. The Road was very narrow and had a high bank and wide hedge on each side. Benjamin Barrow, a native of Beddingham aged 62 and never absent but one year, remembers the above Road perfectly well and they neither of them remember ever to have seen it used by any other teams but those of Cobb Place, except in the busy time of haying when sometimes the Court House Teams have come down the said Road (being their nearest Road). About 30 years ago the fences on each side the above road were grubbed up by Sir Thomas Carr and the Road discontinued.

The Road from Brook's Barn (No 2 as per map) by the new Turnpike to the Road that leads from the Ley to the Furlongs the said John Baker and Benjamin Barrow remember being used by the Waggons, Carts and cattle belonging to the Court House Farm, but never used by sheep. The Road (No 3 as per map) leading from the main Road opposite to the Pond Croft up to the Poor House by the Lidds Croft. Both remember the said Road being fenced in – but the Road went no further than to the said Poor House.

The Road leading from the Main road by the Cottage formerly called Haywards, and situated at the South end of Cobb Place garden, they neither of them remember the said Road ever being used as a Road through the Shaw, but well remember the Road going through the Hoes (belonging to Court House). At that time a grass field but since broken up and now a ploughed field. After it was broken up a Drove Way was made at the South end for the purpose of going (or getting) to th eLand below called the River Ground and the Hough Barr. The said Road also led and was the only Road to the Meadow called the Cock's Field Brook belonging to the Court House Farm.

The Road or Drove Way that now leads from the High Road (leading from Cobbe Place to the Cross Ways toward the Hill) through a field called Wheat End they both remember being fenced in, but before that laid open to the field.

Taken 14 August 1832

Mr Richard's [land agent to Lord Gage] remarks.

The road No 1 - I consider that the owner of the Court House Farm or the Lord of the Manor or the CopyholdType of feudal land tenure
with duties and obligations
to the Lord of the ManorType of feudal land tenure
with duties and obligations
to the Lord of the Manor tenants have not nor ever had any right whatever to the said Road but that it exclusively belonged to Cobbe Place Farm.

No 2 - Is admitted to be a road that the owner or the occupiers of the Court House Farm have a right to use for Carts, Waggons, Horses and Cattle but not sheep and that the CopyholdType of feudal land tenure
with duties and obligations
to the Lord of the ManorType of feudal land tenure
with duties and obligations
to the Lord of the Manor tenants have also a right to use the said road.

No 3 - Is also admitted as a Road for the use of the Beddingham Present Poor House.

No 4 - It does not appear in the old Maps that there has ever been a Road and the old men certainly do not remember there being one.

No 5 – In the old Maps it appears as if there was always a road there but not perhaps fenced in until used by Sir Thomas Carr and must have been the Road leading to the Hough Barr (a field belonging to Cobb Place Farm).

It is very evident and certain that the Court House Farm have no other right of Road to the Brook called the Cock's Field Brook but through the Field called the Hoes (a piece of land belonging to the Court House farm) and it is equally evident that the Cobbe Place Farm has a claim upon Court House Farm but the Court House Farm have none whatever upon Cobb Place Farm. At present they go through Cobb Place Land to get to the Cock's Field Brook and use no other Road.

JR, Aug: 26, 1832