Kirknewton And Westnewton Population : The 13th - 16th Centuries

In 1296 there were eleven individuals in ‘Neuton’ with sufficient taxable goods to be liable to pay the Lay Subsidy (Fraser 1968 No 273; see Selected Sources and Surveys). In this case Newton probably represents a combining of Kirknewton and Westnewton for administrative purposes.

In 1541 there were twelve husbandlands at Westnewton (Bates 1891, 32), all ‘plenyshed’ with tenants, whilst at East Newton (i.e. Kirknewton) William Strother had occupied two husbandlands as his demesne ‘with his own plowes’ and was in possession of a tower and stone house there (Bates 1891, 32, see Selected Sources and Surveys). The 1580 Survey of the Border Service found eighteen tenants in the two Newtons (CBP I 14-19).