Stockland Bristol: Economic history

ECONOMIC HISTORY.

In 1086 there was land at Stockland for five ploughteams. Two teams with four servi worked the demesne estate of 2½ hides; seven villani and four bordars had three teams and ½ hide. There were 50 a. of meadow and 80 a. of pasture. Six cattle, 20 pigs, and 40 sheep were recorded. (fn. 1) There were at least 13 oxen in 1241 and in 1547 arable land accounted for two thirds of the recorded land of the manor. (fn. 2)

In 1317 and 1454 small tithes were payable on hay, reed beds, hemp, flax, wool, milk, apples, calves, foals, swine, geese, and doves. (fn. 3) In 1547 there were c. 25 holdings, of which 7 were over 50 a. and 15 were under 20 a. Six farms had oxhouses, two had sheep houses, and one had a cowhouse. One farm had a whitehouse where cheese and butter were made. (fn. 4)

In the 17th century the rector was supposed to keep a bull and a boar on the rectory field by the church for the use of the tenants and certain tenants were responsible for returning those animals to the field at night. (fn. 5) Sheep were kept on Steart common and in 1613 eight men held a total of 590 sheep leases of which half paid tithe to the vicar. (fn. 6) In 1655 it was said that the manor was divided into woodland and marshland. The marsh was deep earth and healthy for sheep as well as producing wheat, barley, beans, and peas. Stockland moor in the south-west end of the parish was poor marshland and worth as little as 3s. 4d. a year. It was said that less land should be kept under tillage. Rents were very high. (fn. 7) In the 17th century one woman had a cheese press and another kept a variety of livestock. (fn. 8) Sheep were the predominant stock in the early 18th century but there was also cider making and dairying. Houses remained small and poorly furnished. (fn. 9)

In 1744 the number and size of holdings had changed little since the 16th century. (fn. 10) In 1745 it was agreed that tenants should not be granted shares in Stockland moor and the common meadows but that these should be kept in hand until they could be enclosed and rack rented. Nevertheless, in 1801 the common meadows were still being fed in common after mowing. (fn. 11) By the end of the 18th century the largest farms were rack rented (fn. 12) and by 1801 at least three holdings had been amalgamated to create Stockland farm. Much of the land was cold or in need of drainage and a large number of fields which had been oak woodland were said to be unsuitable for agriculture. It was said that anyone with the capital needed to stock Stockland farm, about £2,000, would prefer to buy than to pay the high rent. In 1826 most of the corn grown was wheat but there were small acreages of barley, beans, and oats. (fn. 13) In 1833 the meadow and pasture in the marsh were said to be good and although liable to flood were little damaged as the water subsided quickly, indicating that drainage had improved. The lands of the manor continued to be divided between one large farm and several small holdings. (fn. 14)

In 1837 306 a. of titheable land were arable, 754 a. were meadow and pasture. Stockland manor comprised over 700 a. but most of the remainder of the parish around Steart and in the marsh was still divided between many different owners. Stockland farm measured over 300 a., and there was one other farm of over 100 a., but in contrast there were 14 farms of between 10 a. and 25 a. (fn. 15) Grazing, dairying, and corn growing were the main activities. (fn. 16) In the later 19th century the marshes around Steart were used for grazing cattle and sheep and a herdsman was employed to look after them. There was also a dairywoman at Steart and by 1881 two shepherds. (fn. 17) The size of holdings remained little changed until the 1870s. In 1871 the six largest farms employed 22 labourers but in 1881 the three largest farms together had increased in size to over 560 a. and employed 18 labourers. (fn. 18) In 1905, in the smaller civil parish, arable had shrunk to 131½ a. and there were 584 a. of permanent grass. (fn. 19) A return of 9 holdings totalling 244.7 ha. (605 a.) in 1982 indicated a further shrinkage of arable to only 26 ha. (64 a.), most of which was under wheat. The largest holding was over 100 ha. (247 a.), one had between 30 and 40 ha. (74-99 a.), and the rest were under 20 ha. (50 a.). Seven holdings were worked parttime and of the remainder one specialized in dairying and the other in cattle rearing. There were 2,122 cattle, 220 sheep, 3 pigs, and 42 poultry. (fn. 20)

There were two windmills in the parish in 1317 (fn. 21) and the sites of two medieval mill mounds are known, one at the east end of the village street, the other further north. (fn. 22) Both mills still stood in the 16th century, but one, the customary mill of the manor, which was probably the nearest to the village, had been blown down by the 17th century. (fn. 23) The other, rebuilt c. 1568, was standing c. 1614, but in 1655 the site was said to have been flooded by the sea. (fn. 24) Land called Milland in the 14th century and in the 19th century incorporated into the grounds of Stockland Manor, may also have been the site of a windmill. (fn. 25) Field names suggest the existence of a water mill on the boundary with Stogursey parish near Lower Cock Farm. (fn. 26)

During the 16th century some shipping put into Steart bay (fn. 27) and in the 19th century a mariner from Steart owned a small ship and a half share in a French prize. A Stockland butcher and grazier was a Cannington merchant's partner in a ship which foundered in 1864. (fn. 28) Stockland had fishing weirs with 17 butts and a fishery with 5 nets which were last recorded in 1700. (fn. 29) Fishing provided employment for many families at Steart, who probably used the same methods as at neighbouring Stolford: a mud horse was recorded in 1922. (fn. 30) There were four fishermen at Steart in 1851 and in 1871 and 1881 there were nine. (fn. 31) A clothier was recorded in 1641 (fn. 32) and a tanner in 1702. (fn. 33) A grocer and a cooper each had a shop in the parish in 1881. (fn. 34)