Chartridge - More about farming

A survey of Chartridge and Pednor hedgerows by Peter Casselden in 1984 indicates that cultivation of the ridges and valleys west of Chesham began at least as early as Saxon times. The wooded slopes of the dry valleys closest to Chesham were cleared and cultivated first. The creation of assarts (cleared woodland) moved slowly up the valleys westwards. Later, after the Norman conquest, isolated areas on the higher ground were cleared and gradually became communities in their own right - trees were felled to make way for arable land, pasture for animals and houses, barns and cottages. Even before the hilltop villages were formed, the woodlands were a valuable resource. As well as providing fuel, they were a ready source of beechnuts and acorns for pigs to eat. The Domesday survey reveals Chesham woodlands were able to support a total of 1600 pigs - in Buckinghamshire this was second only to Wendover.

Once settled communities were formed fields and woodlands were held in common. A farmer kept stock or cultivated strips of land in several common fields but was obliged to follow the crop rotation scheme adopted by the village. Casselden says that this would have been a complex arrangement in Chartridge. Unlike the three-field system used by communities in other parts of England at this time, Chiltern villages tended to have more than the usual three large common fields. Chartridge seems to have had at least seven, relatively small, common fields.

Casselden also refers to 16th century wills made by local farmers that provide evidence for mixed farming at this time. Stephen Roweberde's will, made in 1558, included 'milk beasts', sheep and cows as well as wheat, oats and timber.