Lost lanes of Linton Pt3

 In the first part of this series, we read that farmer W.F. Tunnadine complained to Swadlincote magistrates, about the state of repair of Wood Lane, leading from Wallway to Launders Lane. This part will discuss the latter two 'lost lanes'.

 On reading the name Wood Lane, one might think in terms of it being Seal Wood Lane, which diverges from Colliery Lane, a little way from the junction with Main St. However, this lane only appeared in its present form, some time after the publication of the 1884 Ordnance Survey 6" to 1 mile map. There were however tracks leading through Seal Wood, but these may have been for woodland use or management[1].

O.S. 6" to 1 mile map 1884, Derbyshire, sheet LX.SW

 From a newspaper notice of a sale of cut timber in 1861[2], we learn that William Tunnadine was farming at Grange Wood Farm, 'near Seal Wood'. In the 1851 census, he was recorded as living at 'The Wood Farm'[3] and in 1871, just 'Seal Wood': probably the same farm, as addresses for remote locations, were still somewhat subjective.

 The 1821/22 'Hartshorn' map[4], shows a track running from Gunby House on the Grange Wood to Overseal road, skirting Overseal Wood and passing Wood Farm, before meeting up with the track which would become Colliery Lane. From this, we might surmise that Colliery Lane was the track, originally called Wood Lane and the track leading up the hill through the woods past Wood Farm, was probably Launders Lane.

'Hartshorn map', published 1821/22.

 Launders is an unusual name: what might be its origin? Most obviously, a launder was someone who carried out laundry duties. The term can be found in historical documents, e.g. from a 1539 charter concerning St. Bartholomew's priory, Smithfield, London, where a John Cheswyke and his wife Alice, were appointed to the 'office of Launder or washer of all the linen clothes of the church and convent', by the Prior[5].

 Mark Knight (Overseal) has pointed out that part of the Seal woods were known as 'Spitoll Wood' and that this woodland might have been supporting the infirmary of Merevale abbey, near Atherstone,  through tithes and tolls. Would the abbey have been sending their laundry out to Seal Wood to be washed - unlikely? Another idea of Mark's, concerns a possible connection between the 'Wadlands' placename in Overseal, as a possible place where woad grew and Linton - the 'flax farm'. Was linen being produced and dyed in the area? I have not found any local placename evidence relating to cloth production, such as 'fullering', 'retting', 'washing' or 'tentering': perhaps someone knows differently

 A further usage of the Launder name, is for someone who is responsible for the management of woodland. From the Westminster Close Rolls, 8th February 1405, we find; 'To the treasurer and the barons of the exchequer. Order to account with Ralph de Neville keeper of the king's forest beyond Trent concerning his receipts, and concerning his wages and the wages of the launders of the forest,'[6].

 Allied to this last usage of the term, is 'laund(e)'/'lawnd(e)'. The EPNS database, gives the meaning as; 'The woodland glade; the open space in woodland', with many entries associated with the former  Augustinian priory of Launde, in East Goscote, Leicestershire[7]. The grassy glades in woodland, were then probably being managed and maintained to encourage game for hunting, with the woodlands of Seal often visited by the Atherstone hounds[8].

 A spelling in 'lawn' connects to our modern domestic areas of grass and I believe the 'woodland clearing' meaning, is the most likely origin for the Launders Lane of the Seals woodland.

References:
1 Ordnance Survey 6" to 1 mile map series, Derbyshire LX.
 SW, published 1884. https://maps.nls.uk
2 Sales By Auction: Grange Wood, near Netherseal,
 Leicestershire.Staffordshire Advertiser, 6th July, 1861, p8.
 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk
3 Census for Netherseal, Leicestershire, 1851.
 https://www.ancestrylibraryedition.co.uk
4 Hartshorn map, published 1821/22. British Library.
 http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/11/Ordnance_Survey_Drawings_-_Hartshorn_%28OSD_295%29.jpg
5 E A Webb, 'The monastic buildings: The outer court', in The Records of St. Bartholomew's Priory and St. Bartholomew the Great, West Smithfield: Volume 2 (Oxford, 1921), pp. 159-180. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/st-barts-records/vol2/pp159-180
6 Close Rolls, Henry IV: February 1408', in Calendar of Close Rolls, Henry IV: Volume 3, 1405-1409, ed. A E Stamp (London, 1931), pp. 306-313. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-close-rolls/hen4/vol3/pp306-313
7 English Placename Society online database.
 https://epns.nottingham.ac.uk/search
8 Sporting Intelligence, Leicester Journal, 5th Jan, 1838, p4.
 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk

Comments

  1. Dr Mark A. Knight19 October 2021 at 08:38

    Hi Colin, I think, on reflection, that your analysis is likely to be correct, launde as a woodland glade seems most plausible. Mark.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Colin Coates19 October 2021 at 14:41

    Thanks Mark. It's not completely cut and dried yet, unless we can find some definite documentary evidence.

    ReplyDelete

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