New East Hanney Parish Council Community field Stewart Scott and Paul Aram
22 January 2017
1 Introduction East Hanney Parish Council are in the process of taking out a 21 year lease on a field to the North or the Playing field.
2 Proposals To establish a working group. The working group will develop the ideas, consult and implement agreed plans. To advertise for help to investigate the practicalities of a possible BMX, outdoor fitness trail and larger allotments Apply for change of use. Cost £385 £50 to purchase soil testing kit to establish the level of nutrients. Field to be called “King’s Leases” A notice board to be set up which can be used to explain what is happening. 3 Existing status 3.1 Field usage The field has been used for arable crops for a considerable time. It is generally flat and level.
Figure 1- Aerial view of field.
The size is 6.3 Ha
The soil type is unknown
There are no existing public rights of way across the field, but there some are close by. There was a footpath across the field marked on older maps.
There is an overhead electricity cable route crossing the field. Two poles are located in the field and one at its edge.
Figure 2- Map of field showing adjacent public rights of way and electricity poles
The Eastern boundary consists of a partial ditch, small trees and shrubs
The north and western boundary consists of a small trees and shrubs and as adjacent to a Byeway open to all traffic called Cow Lane.
Agricultural vehicle access is at the north west and south east corners.
3.2 Drainage A system of field drains are installed on the far eastern side.
Figure 3- Land drainage sketch
3.3 Tree and shrubs The boundaries consist of small trees and shrubs. These may not be in good condition and it may benefit from some pruning. Advice will need to be sought. 3.4 Electricity poles The three electricity poles and the associated lines should be taken into account when deciding on a location for possible additional sports fields. 3.5 Archaeological significance The Hanney history group have been consulted, they believe that there is very unlikely to be any archaeological artefacts within the field and there is no requirement to carry out any geophysical surveys. 3.6 Biodiversity Because of its continued use for arable crops there is unlikely to be any unusual species of plants, insects or mammals in the field. 3.7 History Group infomation It is an interesting piece of land and from the Enclosure and Tithe maps is called Leases or King's Leases. Leases are grassland often combined together by mutual owners. Like all the land between the Brook and the current Parish boundary track N/S it is part of the old Tything /Manor of Phyllberts. As such it is a significant area of land between East and West Hanneys and one wonders it real age. The track edging the Leases now turns east down the Green Lane but at one stage before the Turnpike A338 was built/updated it continued due north along the parish boundary in the direction of Garford and the Frilford/Marcham complex. It was sold back to local farmers.
Early known owners apart from the medieval St Phillibert family include the Crown- several different Kings such as Richard 11 and Edward 111 have passed it round royal courtiers one of whom was the notorious Alice Perrers, Edward 111's mistress. She and her husband also acquired Ardington and the Hanney Manor of Southbury so she was clearly not daft. It was her family who had the right to appoint a priest to the chapel at Poughley. After the Reformation, the Manor of Phyllberts went to the Yates family of Lyford who remained resolutely Catholic and this may have been when the chapel disappeared as the recusant families retreated into their own manors and worshipped privately. So I suppose that the Leases area could have all been part of the medieval land management of the early hamlet of Poughley or 'Poffley' on the Enclosure Map.
In the 18th century the land passed into the hands of the Pusey family and Philip Pusey left parcels of land across the Vale to various villages. This included the area we are talking about to East and West Hanney as allotments to the villagers.
Older maps do show footpaths crossing the field, but this may be before the definition of public rights of way became established.
4 Field Security To prevent illegal use of the field by travellers it is proposed to install short wooden posts at both entrances. This will allow tractor access but prevent access cars and caravans. Some posts will be installed on Land owned by West Hanney Parish Council and they have given permission.
5 Lease restrictions There no restrictions other than no building is permitted.
6 Neighbourhood plan consultation Question 4.4 of the Community survey asked “What would you like this field to be used for?”
A tick box was provides as follows