Preamble
Reasons for the Study
1. Unusually early and relatively good sources of information.
2. Comparison of records thought likely to throw light on the historical
geography of the Manor, in particular:-
a. Constancy or change of boundaries over a thousand years.
b. Reasons for the position of boundaries, geological and topographical
factors affecting them.
c. Topographical information about Yardley at different periods.
The Origins of Yardley
The name of the Manor, and its foundation, are Anglo-Saxon. Of earlier
settlement there is no record and very little trace. This was not an attractive
region, the valley floors being marshy and the plateau above a dense deciduous
jungle, except where glacial drift provided both firmer going and more open
country.
Anglo-Saxon penetration into our area was from two directions. Mercian (Anglian)
immigrants entered by way of Trent and Tame, following their terraces, spreading
along their tributaries, and establishing small tribal or family units
overlooking them. At about the same time, the end of the 6th century, Saxons
were moving north and east from Severn and Avon. Beside Cole and Rea the two
peoples met.
The small communities which settled in forest clearings were probably
colonies of older ones. It is possible that Yardley was founded by Saxon
herdsmen from Beoley, who moved down the low ridge between the Cole and its
northeast-flowing tributaries and settled on the open sandy knoll overlooking
Stechford. When in 680 A.D. the Hwiccan Diocese of Worcester was founded,
Yardley was included, unlike its neighbours to north and east: in Domesday Book
Yardley is recorded as a member of Beoley, both being the property of Pershore
Abbey.
The Charter of 972 A.D.
This, the first evidence of Yardley's existence, confirms the possession by
the Abbey of St. Mary at Pershore (founded 681) of 5 hides in Gyrdleahe. The
presumed 5 households, though not an unusual number for a small community, seem
very few for a manor of 11˝ square miles. That Yardley was then the same size as
later is one of the conclusions to be drawn from this study. Since it has been
necessary to work backwards from the final boundaries of Yardley, those of 1911,
in order to identify the earlier ones, the former are given first in the
summaries that follow.
|
