Field Names

'''Field and place names give a valuable insight into Cradley's past. Using the information provided in the 1782 and 1785 surveys, together with the Richard Brettell's Estates Map (circa 1800) and the Tithe Map of 1843, Margaret Bradley and Barry Blunt have produced tables which identify Cradley field names, their derivation and their location in present day terms.'''

Cradley Links wishes to record our sincere thanks to Margaret Bradley and Barry Blunt for their generous permission to reproduce these excerpts from their book, "The History of Cradley: A Survey of Cradley and the Enclosure Book".

1. Open Field System 2. Boundaries 3. Size of Field 4. Order 5. Shape 6. Soil 7. Natural Features 8. Roads 9. Flora 10. Crops 11. Domestic/Farm Animals 12. Cradley Park 13. Buildings 14. Industrial 15. Identity of Owner/Tenant 16. Miscellaneous Field and place names give a valuable insight into Cradley's past. Using the information provided in the 1782 and 1785 surveys, together with the Richard Brettell's Estates Map (circa 1800) and the Tithe Map of 1843, Margaret Bradley and Barry Blunt have produced tables which identify Cradley field names, their derivation and their location in present day terms.

Cradley Links wishes to record our sincere thanks to Margaret Bradley and Barry Blunt for their generous permission to reproduce these excerpts from their book, "The History of Cradley: A Survey of Cradley and the Enclosure Book".

Classified Index of Cradley Field Names
1. Open Field System 2. Boundaries 3. Size of Field 4. Order 5. Shape 6. Soil 7. Natural Features 8. Roads 9. Flora 10. Crops 11. Domestic/Farm Animals 12. Cradley Park 13. Buildings 14. Industrial 15. Identity of Owner/Tenant 16. Miscellaneous Notes
 * Open Field System
 * Boundaries
 * Size of Field
 * Order
 * Shape
 * Soil
 * Natural Features
 * Roads
 * Flora
 * Crops
 * Domestic/Farm Animals
 * Cradley Park
 * Buildings
 * Industrial
 * Identity of Owner/Tenant
 * Miscellaneous

Brick-making (Note 1)

After clay was excavated from the ground it was 'puddled' to remove unwanted material and provide an even consistency. It was then moulded into its required form using a wooden mould and dried to reduce shrinkage. Final burning took place in a clamp in which bricks were stacked together with faggots of brushwood as fuel. This method gave unevenness in size and colour until it was replaced by burning in kilns in which bricks were stacked to allow the passage of hot air between them. Firing took about 48 hours.

Few buildings were built in Britain with brick before the 17th C., despite the advantages of baking bricks on site or using local kilns, as opposed to quarrying, dressing and transporting stone.

Coppice (Note 2)

The term is now used to describe any small area of woodland, but coppicing was a technical term applied to tree cultivation. Deciduous tree species produce a mass of shoots when cut. They grow into straight stems, increasing annually in height and thickness and can be harvested at regular intervals. The ancient craft of coppicing dates from the Neolithic period. It was a major industry, supplying fuel and building materials, besoms, hurdles, handles and hay-rakes, wattles, laths, thatching spars, cogwheels and spindles. Trees were coppiced by rotation.

© Copyright 2002 Margaret Bradley and Barry Blunt.

Reproduced with permission.