Geo. R. Corner

“ J. O. Clark, of Chertsey, for kind and valuable information and assistance. I have also to express my thanks to the Rev. S. J. Jerram, of Chobham, for useful information respecting the boundaries of that parish, and to Mr. Thomas R. Bartrop, of Chertsey, and to John Yonge Akerman, Esq., Secretary of the Society of Antiquaries, who accompanied me on a pedestrian excursion to identify some of the boundary-marks, and who has given me his able assistance in rendering the more difficult parts of the Anglo-Saxon charter into modern English. ”

“ These grants generally contain very precise descriptions of the boundaries of the lands granted; and it is at least curious to trace those boundaries after the lapse of a thousand years, on a modern map, and to remark how many of the ancient landmarks are still remaining in the names of places, farms, hills, valleys, mounds, roads, rivers, streams, trees, stones, and other remarkable objects, which in all ages have been used to point out the extent of landed possessions and jurisdictions. ”

“ The boundaries of Chertsey and Thorpe, as set forth in the Charter of King Ælfred, comprehend the manors of Crocford and Woodham, which the boundary as described in the Charter of Friðwald omits; but in the last-mentioned charter the boundaries of Egham and Chobham are given, which are not contained in Ælfred's grant.
These charters were printed in the "Monasticon," [4] and in the "Codex Diplomaticus," from a MS. in the Cottonian Library at the British Museum, written, as supposed, about the time of King Stephen; and the English or Anglo-Saxon is very corrupt ”

“ Kemble, in his preface to the third volume of the "Codex," says:—"In general, certain well-defined natural objects, as a hill, a stream, or a remarkable tree, furnished the points by which the boundary-line was directed; when these were wanting, a hedge, a ditch, a pit or well, or the mound of an ancient warrior, served the purpose; even posts of wood and stone appear to have been common ”

“ Qua de re ego Friðuualdus, prouinciæ Surrianorum subregulus regis Wlfarii Mercianorum, propria uoluntate, sana mente integroque consilio, a præsente die dono, concedo, transfero, et de meo iure in tuum transcribo terram ad augendum monasterium quod primo sub rege Egberto constructum est, manentium ducentos ad roborandum idem monasterium quod Cirotesege nuncupatur, et quinque mansas in loco qui dicitur Ðorp: non solum terram do, sed confirmo et meipsum et unicum filium meum in obedientiam Erkenuualdi abbatis trado, et est terra inter totum coniuncta manentium trescentorum ”

“ It is shown on the old plan of the abbey lands, in Manning and Bray's Surrey, and is there on the same side of the river as Mixtenham. Boseyte was probably the Boresborough of the charter. ↑ 47.0 47.1 There are two islands in the Thames, opposite to Ham (in Chertsey) , which are called the Ham eyots, and are doubtless the eyots indicated in the charter as Hameneye and Northenhameneye, one of which is in a bend of the river running north and south, and above stream from the other island, which is in a bend running from west to east. ”

“ Then follows the description of the boundary of the lands granted by the charter.
This is the five-hide book [8] to "Cerotesege" and to "Ðorpe," which King Friðewald gave to Christ, and St. Peter, and Abbot Erkenwald, in full freedom in all things within the prescribed landmarks which be written in this book.
This is the landmark to "Cerotesege," and to "Ðorpe;" that is, first from "Waiemuðe" [9] up endlong "Weie" [10] to "Waigebrugge;" [11] from "Waigebrugge" within the old mill-stream, midward of the stream to the old "Herestræte;" ”

“ Sir Geoffrey probably held a knight's fee in Egham of the abbot. The Norman name of this knight strengthens the opinion that this description of the boundary was made subsequently to the Norman conquest. ↑ Herdies or Hardies. ↑ The Thorny Hill must have been the south part of Shrubs Hill. ↑ Hertleys must have been where Broomhall Hut now is. ↑ The Minchin's Rood, or Nun's Rood, a cross which probably stood on the hill called "Mincing Ride," near Broomhall Hut, on Chobham Heath, between an old intrenchment and the high road to Winchester. ”

“ Mr. Clark suggests that a hollow basinshaped piece of land near Thorpe Leigh, which has some appearance of having formerly been a pool, and where the water is still very deep in flood-time, may mark the site of the Shirenpol. ↑ Mr. Clark says he could not hear of Fulbrook in this quarter, but there is a considerable depth of water here, separating Thorpe and Egham. ↑ The black willow-tree. ↑ See note 38. Mr. Clark says he cannot find that Wealeshithe, or Wallshithe, is known now by that name. ”

“ Gage Rokewood's examination of the Bartlow Hills, in Essex, may be expected. ↑ This may mean the Tree of Victory, or merely a hollow tree. "Sige tren" would give us the former signification, and the neighbouring barrows may cover the mighty dead; but "Sihtra," or "Siohtra," is a wooden pipe, made of the trunk of a tree, hollowed or bored for the purpose. ”

“ Æv. Sax., vol. iii. pref. p. viii. ↑ The custom still existing, of a periodical perambulation of the boundaries of parishes, is a relic of a similar ancient practice in this country, although the libations are now reserved for the parish dinner after the fatigues of the day; and instead of sacrificing a lamb or a young pig, some luckless boy is bumped to make him remember the boundary-mark. ↑ Manning and Bray, Hist. Surrey, vol. iii. p. 208. ↑ Monasticon Anglicanum, by Caley, Ellis, and Bandinell, vol. i. p. 426. Regm. Abb. de Chertsey, MS. Cotton, Vitell. A. 13, fo. ”

“ MS. Vitellius, A. xiii. ↑ Wheleshythe, which we may recollect was the northern boundary on the Thames, of Thorpe. ↑ 70.0 70.1 70.2 70.3 70.4 70.5 70.6 70.7 70.8 70.9 The Black Withy, Fulbrook, Shirepool, Whelegate, Depenbrook, the Three Trees, the Hore Maple-tree, Exleafsburn, Merchebrook, and the Shigtren, are all on the boundary of Thorpe, as before described. ↑ Wisan Leage, a field of plants, or—the field of the wise men, leaders, or chiefs. ↑ Woburnen, in the Bourne Streeme. ↑ Mr. Kemble says Wapshot, Surrey. I know not if there be a place so called ”

“ Ðús feale synden ðére ygetta ðe liggeð intó Cherteseye and tó Ðorpe; ðat synden. viii. leassen and máren, and vii. werbære ða synden ealle betweonen Weales húðe and Waiemúðe. An óðer landimére me shal uinde herefterward ðat wæs igón albúten bi Ælfredes ðe wise kinges daie tó Cherte. Ðis bet ðe landimére of ðe uiftene hide lond in Egehám. Ðis bet ðe landimére æt Egehám; ðat is, ærest at én shigtren bouen Halsam ”