Upton St Leonards: Feoffees of the Manor

Records of feoffees of the manor, including court rolls and drafts, 1591-1594, 1759-1898; deeds of the manor 1605-1886

<p>[See also P347b (Upton St Leonards Parish Council)]</p>

Deposited by Upton St Leonards Parish Council except accession 7922, item P347a FM8, which was deposited by the Rector and PCC of Upton St Leonards

The Manor was purchased by the freeholders in 1605, and was held for them by a group of Feoffees (Trustees), who held a Court Leet and Baron every year, at which orders were made for the management of the common lands. They also collected common fines, the payment of which entitled the payers to grazing rights on Sneedham's Green; and the management of Cudhill Common and the Pound was in their hands. By the Inclosure Award of 1897 the common fields became freehold, and thus outside the jurisdiction of the Feoffees. The Steward of the Manor resigned in 1896, after the Inclosure Act had been passed, and finally, in 1899, the Feoffees' remaining powers over Sneedham's Green and Cudhill Commons were transferred to the Parish Council, the Pound having been abolished