Lane Laws of Aldwincle
In 1772 at the Inclosure the herbage growing and renewing in the lanes was given by the Commissioners to the inhabitants of these parishes that keep Cows
After the hedges had grown strong the restriction to lead them in strings was given up as not being any longer necessary.
In 1834 the occupiers of the lanes drew up some rules for the better management of the lanes and which were signed by the principal inhabitants and were considered to be as binding as law.’
Copy of the Lane Laws
We, whose names are hereunto annexed, desire that the following Rules be observed by all Persons who turn Cows into the Lanes at Aldwincle.
1. That a meeting of the Cottagers be called early in the spring, to appoint a Man and a boy, to keep all the Cows that are turned into the Lanes .
2. That all persons refusing to send their Cows by the Man appointed by a majority of the Cottagers, shall be compelled to lead them in strings according to the Law.
3. All Cows having horns, shall have hobs on, or not be taken out by the keepers.
4. The Man and boy shall spud the thistles, growing in the Lanes.
5. The keepers shall take the Cows out at six o’clock in the morning, and bring them home at eight o’clock in the evening.
6. All Cows that are not ready, when the keeper shall call for them in the mornings, shall be sent after them.
7. All Cows that are out after eight o’clock in the evening with, or without keepers shall be impounded.
8. If any person shall keep his Cows, or any of them at home one, or more days in the week, he shall pay the keepers for them the same as though they were not kept at home.
9. Lastly, No person shall turn more than two Cows into the Lanes and the time of turning out to commence not sooner than the tenth of April, and to end on the twenty second of November in every year.
Amendement 1873
In March 1873 there was a slight amendment to the rules
4. The Man and Boy shall cut up the thistles and other weeds growing in the lanes.
5. No person shall turn more than two Cows into the Lanes, and all other animals, whether Horses, Asses, Sheep or Swine, are prohibited and any such, being found in the Lanes, either strayed or being kept, shall be impounded.
‘By these rules every householder is authorised to turn out two Cows – and the man keeping them is not allowed to take but two and anyone sending more than two is compelled to lead them in strings according to the ancent law.
Amendment 1905
Note of a meeting held on April 15th 1905 :-
At a meeting held in the Red Lion. It was proposed by Mr Hudson and seconded by Mr Brown that a Cottager be allowed to turn out three Cows if he required provided that there is not above twenty turned out.
Carried unanimously.
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