Tarset : Components Of The Medieval Site And Manor

Evidence for settlement, population levels and tenurial development at Tarset has been collated by Wrathmell (1975, II, 506). The Inquisitions Post Mortem held in 1326 and 1329 to value the holdings of John Comyn of Badenagh, who had died in 1315, provides one of the most detailed inventories of the manor and all its components:

(NCH XV (1940), 244-5; CalDocScot III, no. 886; Cal IPM VI, no. 697 – AD 1326)

John Comyn held of the king in chief the manor of Tyrset in Tyndale by the service of one and a half knights’ fees and doing suit at the court of Wark in Tyndale every three weeks:

The manor and orchard used to be worth in time of peace 2s. yearly, and now nothing lying waste and destroyed  by the Scots.

There are 38 acres of demesne land each worth in time of peace 12d., of which there are in occupation 10 acres which are farmed out at 3s. 4d to be paid at the feasts of Pentecost and St. Martin, the price of an acre 4d. and the rest lies waste from want of tenants.

There is a park which was worth yearly in herbage £10, and now 3s. 4d.

There is a hope called Tyresthope formerly worth yearly in herbage £26 13s. 4d., and now 13s 4d to be paid at the said terms.

There is another hope called Emelhope, formerly worth yearly in herbage £6 13s 4d., and now nothing because of want of tenants.

There is a shieling called le Grenehalgh, formerly worth yearly in herbage £8 and now 2s 6d; also hope called le Caryte formerly worth yearly in herbage 106s. 8d. and now 4s. 6d.

And a hope called Kielder formerly worth in herbage £26 13s. 4d. yearly, and now nothing because it lies waste for want of tenants.

And a shieling called Kielderheys formerly worth in herbage £4 yearly and now worth nothing for the same cause.

And a hope called Thorneybourne with le Brendis formerly worth in herbage £12 10s yearly and now 13s. 4d.

And there are 14 bondages in Charleton pertaining to the said manor, each containing one toft and 20 acres of land and each being formerly worth 20s. yearly, of which there are in occupation 20 acres which are farmed out at 6s. 8d. to be paid at the said terms. The rest lies waste and uncultivated.

And a pasture called Byrchenshop formerly worth 13s. 4d. yearly and now nothing because it lies waste.

And a hamlet called Grenestede formerly worth 60s. yearly in herbage and now 3s. 4d.

And a hope called Doncliwode formerly worth yearly in herbage £8 and now 10s.

And a hope called Waynhop formerly worth yearly in herbage £9 and now nothing because it lies waste for want of tenants.

And a park (at Wainhope) formerly worth yearly in herbage £8 and now nothing for the same cause.

And a hope called Trivetbourne with le Grene formerly worth yearly in herbage £26 13s. 4d. and now 20s.

And a hope called Poltrerneth formerly worth yearly in herbage £12 and now nothing.

And a hope called le Belles with le Bowhous formerly worth in herbage £12 now nothing.

And a hope called Stokhalgh with le Bernes formerly worth yearly in herbage £9 and now 6s 8d.

And a hope called Haucop formerly worth  £10 13s. 4d. and now nothing for the cause aforesaid.

And a hope called Sundayhaygh formerly worth yearly 53s. 4d., now 3s. 4d.

And there was a water mill formerly worth yearly £30, and now nothing because it lies broken and out of order.”

(CalDocScot III, no.979 – AD 1329)

Not extended formerly:

42 acres of demesne in Tyrsete manor, each worth 12d

a hope there called Shouelburne, worth £26 13s. 4d.

Another called Smal and Yerhalgh, worth £14

In 1329, John Comyn’s widow, Margaret, afterwards wife of Edmund earl of Kent, was assigned a third part of the manorial holding as a dower, as was customary, comprising a third part of Sholeburnhope, the hope of Kielderheies, the site of a capital messuage with the demesne lands in Wainhope and certain lands in Dedewaynhope, Poltrevet, land worth £14 13s. 4d in time of peace in Le Green, Le Karite which was worth 106s. 8d in time of peace, Dunkleywood worth £8 in time of peace, a third of the mills and park of Tarset, of the park of Wainhope and of the forest of Emelhope, and a third of some other land, name illegible, worth 12s. in time of peace (CalDocScot III, no. 993; Cal IPM VI, no. 252; cited in NCH XV (1940), 245).