Burgess Lands Map, Newcastle-under-Lyme

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Date:1860 - 1880 (c.)

Description:This map shows the lands held in trust by the Burgesses of Newcastle-under-Lyme and was made by Richard Malabar.

Over 800 years ago the King granted the town a Royal Charter, and it became a Borough. People who lived in a Borough were called Burgesses, and they were allowed to use the ‘common’ lands that surrounded the town.This land was known as Stubbs' Field, Clayton Field, Brampton Field, King's Field, Stoney Field, Ash Field and Pool Field.

By the 18th century the Burgesses had the right to: grow crops or graze animals on Burgess land, not to be called up for military service, trade in the market and form a guild or traders' association, vote and have a ‘burgage’ plot on the Burgess lands to live on.

After the government passed the Enclosure Act in 1816 the Burgesses were given a portion of the common land and a group of Trustees were formed to manage this land. Many Burgesses were involved in the running of the town and they often had important positions on the town council.

To become a Burgesses, you had to be a man over the age of 21 so long as they were either: apprenticed to a Burgess, the son of a Burgess, willing to pay for the title or given the title for free.

Newcastle Burgesses today can no longer give or sell the right to be a burgess, are not involved in the running of the town.

The original trustees sold most of the Burgess lands and invested the money, so on 1 March each year each Burgess gets a share of the profits.

Digitisation funded by Heritage Lottery Fund


Timeline

The timeline shows resources around this location over a number of years.

1800s
One Guinea Bank Note, Newcastle-under-Lyme
One Guinea Bank Note, Newcastle-under-Lyme

A Newcastle-under-Lyme bank note for one guinea (£1 and 1 shilling). Banks used ...

1830s
View of the High Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme
View of the High Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme

This oil painting by James Hulse c. 1839 shows the High Street in Newcastle-under-Lyme. ...

1870s
High Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme
High Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme

This very early photograph captures the scene as a horse and cart waits on the cobbles ...

1890s
V Batte's Greengrocers, Ironmarket, Newcastle-under-Lyme
V Batte's Greengrocers, Ironmarket, Newcastle-under-Lyme

Photograph of V. Batte's greengrocers. It stood next to the Star Inn, and later ...

1910s
Oxen's Chemist, High Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme
Oxen's Chemist, High Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme

Oxen's had two chemists shops in Newcastle-under-Lyme from 1905 onwards. The original ...

1930s
Ironmarket, Newcastle-under-Lyme
Ironmarket, Newcastle-under-Lyme

Taken in 1932 this photograph shows the view looking down the Ironmarket from its ...

1950s
Old Bull's Head Inn, Lad Lane, Newcastle-under-Lyme
Old Bull's Head Inn, Lad Lane, Newcastle-under-Lyme

Photograph of the Old Bull's Head Inn in Lad Lane. The core of the pub is believed ...

1970s
Newcastle Market, Newcastle-under-Lyme
Newcastle Market, Newcastle-under-Lyme

Newcastle Market by J.W. Griffiths is a very colourful and lively streetscene with ...

1990s
High Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme
High Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme

A nostalgic wintery watercolour by artist Alf Fallows painted c2001 depicting the ...

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Creators: Mr Robert Malabar - Creator ,  Waterlow and Sons, London - Creator

Donor ref:NM.2017.228 (R) (22/34901)

Source: Brampton Museum and Art Gallery, Newcastle under Lyme

Copyright information: Copyrights to all resources are retained by the individual rights holders. They have kindly made their collections available for non-commercial private study & educational use. Re-distribution of resources in any form is only permitted subject to strict adherence to the usage guidelines.