The inhabitants of the Veddw that I can identify and learn something about seem to have begun their occupation here as squatters. It’s curious that there is so little written about squatting. When I began researching the phenomenon I could only find one book that was really useful and dedicated to the topic:
Yet between 1500 and the 20th century squatting was widespread over the whole of the British Isles. (and the rest of the world) You would be able to find references to it, for example, not only in Wales but in South West England, the Forest of Dean, the Royal Parks, the Staffordshire Potteries, Oxfordshire – ‘Lark Rise’, Essex, North Yorkshire, Northamptonshire, Worcestershire, Derbyshire, Windsor Forest, Enfield Chase, East Sussex, and Ironbridge has a re-erected squatter cottage in the Blists Hill Victorian Town.
Wikipedia declares (without citation) that In 16th- and 17th-century Wales, an expansion in population as well as taxation policy led to a move of people into the Welsh countryside, where they squatted on common land. These squatters built their own property under the assumption of a fictional piece of folklore, leading to the developments of small holdings around a tŷ unnos or “house in a night”.
Tŷ unnos or one night house.
This is the tradition that if you could build a house in a night, that would establish your right to the site. Charles Heath reported in 1799 that ‘in the Wye Valley between Ross and Monmouth he saw a small hut, by the waterside, carelessly heaped together, which according to the established custom, the indigent natives raise in the night; this if they can accomplish it, so as to cover in, and boil a pot within the space of twelve hours unmolested, becomes their own; and they are allowed to enclose a sufficient quantity of land around it, and to rebuild a more suitable cottage.’ (quoted in ‘A World unto Themselves,’ an unpublished thesis by James Moir 1990 p 164)
Moir does go on to say, however, that ‘it is irrelevant whether the house was built in a night or a fortnight, as the myth that it entitled the occupier to freehold possession constituted no defence in Statute Law….The myth tried to condense into a night what should have effectively by statute taken twenty years.’ (page 165)
It rarely gets mentioned in discussions of tŷ unnos that it was possibly not the landowner who was most unhappy about such cottages, but perhaps the commoners and tenants already there. David Jones, writing about the Rebecca Riots of 1843-44 in South Wales, (p55) explains that the tŷ unnos settlers ‘were not universally popular, for they cut across the rights of local farmers, interfered with the traditional sheep walks, and there were fears that the poorest squatters might become a burden on the rates.’
However, back to the Veddw:
We know that the various Dukes of Beaufort kept an eye on squatters. We have surveys of the Manor of Chepstow, dated 1584, 1687 and one from the 19th century. These are full of interest for local people. In them you’ll find a jury named, who are asked, on behalf of the Duke, a variety of questions about their knowledge of the manor.
They are always asked what encroachments there are and it’s hard to imagine that the Duke just thought that it was nice to have new people around.
I now have to confess that I find reading these documents quite beyond me in places, so if I quote some you’ll get gaps. So:
“Thomas Herbert ….. did enclose and wrongfully occupie by estimation 35 acres of land in the Vedowe; which his heirs do now hold….”
Also Jane Jenkin (a woman, note) hath enclosed and wrongfully occupied 30 acres of land in the said Vedowe and hath possessed the same ??? Years.
Item we present that Harris Richard hath enclosed and possessed by estimation (sorry..)..of land in the middle of the Vedw by the (what??!!) ..
These are just samples. And we have to believe, I think, that they became recipients of leases and in future paid rent for the privilege. I will return to leases. This is probably enough for now.
I will be pursuing all this remorselessly, probably for years, choose what – because it all fascinates me. And I’ll put it up here for whoever may be interested. But I can’t tell you what a joy a little encouragement by way of comment (below or email – anne@veddw.co.uk) is. Xxx
Fascinating. What is hard to get ones head around is where all those acres of the Veddw (i insist on Veddw and not Fedw) were located. That’s a large part of the whole area that I think of as the Veddw. Our entire plot is just two acres. But I guess it all depends what the boundaries of what was consider the Veddw were. Maybe you’ll find out!
I’d love to….
And 35 acres is a lot to just nab. Surely someone else was using it? Or did it belong to some bigwig in absentia who actually wasn’t doing much with it? I’d love to know if this was basically forest or land for grazing or for growing things on. I imagine them packing their cabbages onto donkeys to take down to sell to the iron workers in Tintern…
It would have belonged to the Duke of Beaufort, and was probably ‘Waste’ before it was taken over. But Waste was still used by people around, if there were any. However, move on just a few years (!) to 1761 and the Badminton Map, which I will get to in due course, and you can find out what everyone was doing. We were Waste…..I’ll keep an eye open for what everyone was doing with the land…..
Yes, sounds like a lot… but looking at the evidence of land use over long time in my patch ( N Pembrokeshire nr Cardigan), it’s clear that at some periods the land running down the sides of steep cwms was purposefully enclosed by literally monumental feats of wall building. Yet nowadays (and for a hundred years) these areas have been left idle… hundreds of acres, in a time of unprecedented land values! Radically changing social patterns are reflected in changing landscape usage. Looking at cottages now long derelict in far-flung locations makes me believe in the reality of ‘house in a night’s likely prevalence, with sometimes a serious acreage being claimed.
This is fascinating stuff. I love the idea of squatters outdoors, rather than in city buildings that are derelict. I did research on 18th and 19th century documents when we lived in England and found the writing difficult to decipher. Your challenge is much greater. More rewarding as a result, or simply more eye-destroying?
It’s a bit embarrassing – I know I could learn to decipher it but lack the necessary patience and commitment. But it’s so tantalising! It does get easier with the 18th and 19th centuries. What prompted your research? Same as at Glen Villa – learning your land?
Having also looked at many documents dating into the 1500s in England I can say that these are in a fine and legible hand. And as you have done in research you learn so much about life all those years ago. I can almost transport myself back there. My ancestors came from Eyam, the plague village. To think here I am experiencing something not unlike what was going on back then but managing to stay safe so far, whereas many of them died.
I know you’re right about the fine and legible hand – it’s me that’s lacking! I know of Eyam: a remarkable place, and yes, our plague is not quite as foul as that was. But take care!
Really interesting fascinating information. I love reading it thank you! Xxx
So interesting. The New Forest in Hampshire also had squatters who fenced in small patches of common land to scratch out a meagre living.
I think it happened a great deal.