Thanks to everyone who joined us on Thursday 15th June for our second lunchtime lecture of the season. Jeff delivered a lively talk titled "Reconstructing Alice's World: The Life of a 15th-Century Village."
For those who couldn't attend, you can view a recording of Jeff's talk at this link: https://youtu.be/V7vcJTPSWAg.
In 1483, Alice Stuard, a widow, died. Her will revealed that she possessed a minimum of 77 sheep, a pair of oxen (known as a yoke), a cow, as well as land, buildings, and cash.
During the 14th and 15th centuries, sheep played a vital role in Sutton's economy. Alice would have grazed her sheep in the southern part of the parish, where the chalk downs began to rise towards Banstead. The wool produced by the Downs sheep was of exceptional quality, and during the 14th century, the Abbot of Chertsey, who held the Lordship of Sutton Manor, maintained a flock of many thousands on Banstead Downs.
Between mid-May and mid-July, the sheep would have been sheared, and Alice would have gathered her fleeces to take them to the market. Approximately 20 fleeces were required to fill a wool sack, weighing about 60 kg or 132 lb, and a mule could carry two sacks. Alice would have considered herself fortunate to receive £4 for each sack at the market. However, she managed to send four sacks of wool, earning an expected total of £16 in 1480.
For those who couldn't attend, you can view a recording of Jeff's talk at this link: https://youtu.be/V7vcJTPSWAg.
In 1483, Alice Stuard, a widow, died. Her will revealed that she possessed a minimum of 77 sheep, a pair of oxen (known as a yoke), a cow, as well as land, buildings, and cash.
During the 14th and 15th centuries, sheep played a vital role in Sutton's economy. Alice would have grazed her sheep in the southern part of the parish, where the chalk downs began to rise towards Banstead. The wool produced by the Downs sheep was of exceptional quality, and during the 14th century, the Abbot of Chertsey, who held the Lordship of Sutton Manor, maintained a flock of many thousands on Banstead Downs.
Between mid-May and mid-July, the sheep would have been sheared, and Alice would have gathered her fleeces to take them to the market. Approximately 20 fleeces were required to fill a wool sack, weighing about 60 kg or 132 lb, and a mule could carry two sacks. Alice would have considered herself fortunate to receive £4 for each sack at the market. However, she managed to send four sacks of wool, earning an expected total of £16 in 1480.
