I am a PhD student researching enclosure in south Cambridgeshire and
have come across two words that I cannot find the meaning. One is
from the enclosure Commissioners' claims book for Harston 1798. The
word is 'Shoals' e.g. Claim of Swan Wallis, '2 cottages ...and right of
Common thereto belonging also 2 lots in the Town Shoals. One
belonging to each cottage. also 'One 19th share of Town Shoals.'
The other word is Dowlage' This comes from an agreement dated
1789 between various landowners in the parish of Thriplow, south
Cambridgeshire, to grow Sanfoin in part of the open field. After
describing where the sanfoin is to be grown, it says 'Secondly, Every
person to have seeds and sow the same quantity of acres with trefoil,
in the same field as they have acres of singuefoil, sanfoin, & to
sow 14 pounds on every acre and to Harrow them in (Dowlage excepted).'
If anyone could help, I should be extremely grateful.
Shirley Wittering
shirley@wittering.adsl24.co.uk