Shropshire Routes to Roots

1. Introduction

About this theme

This study of Sheinton's open fields and common land was kindly donated by local historians Dr. Trevor G. Hill and Margaret A. Hill.

Introduction

Since the Middle Ages the parish of Sheinton has possessed the basic land requirements to sustain a community - areas of arable, pasture, meadow and wood-land. Under the manorial system this land was held by a number of laymen and the church; there was the freehold estate of Shinewood, land held by the manorial lord and land held by the incumbent of the church, his glebe-land. Under this ownership the land was subdivided into identifiable tenantries and common land. The agricultural system in Sheinton included meadowland on the flood plain of the river Severn, enclosed fields of pasture for grazing and three open-fields of arable land which followed what is generally called the 'Midland System' shown in the image.

The Probable landscape of Sheinton in the Middle Ages [Reproduced with kind permission of T.G. Hill]

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