HELD FOR NINE CENTURIES.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13277, 30 November 1911, Page 4

HELD FOR NINE CENTURIES.

Tho land valuers whose work is exciting so much indignation among landed peoplo in Britain aro making the first comprehensive inventory of private estates since the eleventh century, when tho Doomsday Book was compiled. They were antonished to discover a few months ago that ono property at least has remained in the hands of the- same family for more than nine centuries. Tlie estate is in the parish of East Quantockshead, Somerset, and it is occupied by Mr. A. F. Luttrell, a lineal descendant of Ralf Paynell, who held it in the reign of William the Conqueror. It consists of four farms, a mansion, an inn, thirty-seven cottages, with small holdings, schools, quarries, woods and common land, making a total area of 2295 acres. The total value of the estato is estimated by the owner now to be £26,748 14s 9d, though probably it would bring a good deal more than that in the open market, and it is interesting to learn that it was wortli £8 when the Doomsday Book was compiled. "Thero is land for twentj' ploughs," recorded the valuer of the eleventh century. "In demesne aro 5 hides and 1 ferling and 2 ploughs and 5 serfs, and thero are 13 villeins nnd 7 bordars with 7 ploughs and 2 hides, less 1 ferling. There are 4 swine. There is a mill paying 7 shillings and 6 ponce and 20 acres of meadow, and 50 acres of wood (land). Pasture 2 leagues long and 1 league broad. It was worth 11 pounds when he received it. Now 8 pounds." There is up record to show hpw Ralf Paynoll came into possession of this estate, but it may bo assumed that ho did not buy it. Probably ho rendered military service of importance to a local nobleman, or perhaps he showed his personal prowess by ejecting an earlier owner at the point of the sword. Tho ability to retain possession constituted a title to land in the good old days.