Thurloxton: Economic history

ECONOMIC HISTORY.

The estate held by Hugh of William de Mohun in 1086 comprised 4 ploughlands. There was 1 ploughteam on the demesne farm of 3 virgates worked by 3 servi, and 1¼ hide was shared between 6 villani and 12 bordars with 3½ teams. There were 6 a. of meadow, 100 a. of pasture, and 10 a. of moor. (fn. 1) In 1319 the demesne farm was in hand, (fn. 2) but by 1437 it was let. Rents and entry fines, amercements, capon rents, and chevage of a neif then amounted to less that £20. (fn. 3) Freeholds were recorded in the 1460s, including one called Benetshay. (fn. 4) Demesnes and customary holdings were distinguished in 1535, (fn. 5) but by 1539 all the lands were accounted as customary, except three small freeholds, (fn. 6) probably including Bullenshay. (fn. 7)

In 1086 demesne stock comprised three beasts and a pig. (fn. 8) Pigs and geese were mentioned in 1539. (fn. 9) Sheep figured in 16th-century wills: one man distributed a flock of 40 among members of his family in 1558, another gave a lamb for church repairs. (fn. 10) In 1634 the rector received tithes and moduses on cider, apples, wool, colts, pigs, lambs, cows, and calves and on pasture let to non-parishioners. (fn. 11) Sheep continued to be important in the later 17th century and one farmer had a flock worth £34 in 1666. (fn. 12) Farming, however, was mixed: cheese and cider were made, and peas and vetches were grown. (fn. 13)

In 1784 flax was grown on 6 a. at Leversdown which produced a crop weighing over 200 stone. (fn. 14) At that period the parish was described as well cultivated, the land being very good and mainly in tillage. (fn. 15) In 1838 farms were small: 18 had between 5 a. and 25 a., 5 between 25 a. and 40 a., and the two largest holdings were the glebe (61 a.) and Thurloxton farm (63 a.). (fn. 16) During the later 19th century holdings were amalgamated but few men farmed more than 100 a. or employed more than two or three labourers. In 1861 Thurloxton farm had over 440 a. and 20 labourers but only half the land lay within the parish. (fn. 17) By 1943 the former Portman estate in the parish comprised three farms: Thurloxton (330 a.), Keirles (78 a.), and Glebe (76 a.), the last without a house. (fn. 18)

In 1838 c. 345 a. were arable, 150 a. meadow and pasture, and 56 a. orchards and gardens. (fn. 19) A lease of 1845 required the tenant to sow at least four of his 42 a. with artificial grass seed in the last year of his term, not to sow beans, and to feed sheep only. During the last two years he was limited to only 3 a. of potatoes. (fn. 20) By 1905 the parish was divided almost equally between arable and permanent grass. (fn. 21) In 1982 a return from four holdings covering almost the whole parish indicated the predominance of arable and horticultural crops, with only 60 ha. (c. 144 a.) under grass. The principal crops were wheat, barley, oilseed rape, potatoes, fruit, and green vegetables. Of the four farms, one produced general horticultural crops and another specialized in growing fruit for direct public sale. Livestock consisted of 323 sheep and a few cattle and poultry. (fn. 22)

A water mill kept in hand by the lords in 1437 and 1439, when a fulling mill was built or rebuilt, (fn. 23) was probably the mill sold to Henry Portman with the manor in 1566. (fn. 24) The mill, in Mill Lane on the stream north of the road to Clavelshay, (fn. 25) had a malt mill by 1765 and was let to the Hopkins family, (fn. 26) the tenants in 1838. (fn. 27) It appears to have gone out of use by 1841. (fn. 28) The mill house, now Keirles Farm, dates from the 16th century, with 17th-century alterations and additions. (fn. 29) No trace of the mill remains.

In 1563 a man from Thurloxton imported wine and grindstones through Bridgwater, (fn. 30) and in 1617 another was a gunpowder maker. (fn. 31) In 1668 a man growing grain and peas for sale had a stock of oak and ash timber, 14 dozen and 9 pairs of stockings, some described as Irish, and a quantity of Irish cloth. (fn. 32) There was a maltster in 1695. (fn. 33) Other craftsmen in the 17th and 18th centuries included blacksmiths and a tallow chandler. (fn. 34) In 1821 8 out of 35 families were not engaged in agriculture. (fn. 35) By the later 19th century there were shoemakers, carpenters, dressmakers, butchers, and a wheelwright. One carpenter and builder employed five men in 1871 and kept a shop. (fn. 36)