Crop burning in the 1730s

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Burnthops
Posts: 2
Joined: 26 Jun 2021, 17:49

Crop burning in the 1730s

Post by Burnthops »

Hello everyone,

I'd like to ask if anyone knows if crop burning cultivation would have been common in England in the 1720s and 1730s, and if so, where is it likely to have occurred, and to which crops? Many thanks!

Alan Wadsworth
Posts: 46
Joined: 26 Jun 2017, 11:04

Re: Crop burning in the 1730s

Post by Alan Wadsworth »

Hello,

Assuming that you are referring to burn-baking or denshiring, then the book 'Wiltshire Farming in the Seventeenth century' by Joseph Bettey may be useful. In parts of his book, he strays into the 1720s - for instance, an enclosure agreement for Nunton dated 1720 refers to "burn beak" (an alternative spelling). pp.151-153. He also has a chapter on "Burn-baking and conversion of pasture to arable round Malmesbury" (pp.199-202).

Hope this helps

Burnthops
Posts: 2
Joined: 26 Jun 2021, 17:49

Re: Crop burning in the 1730s

Post by Burnthops »

Hi Alan, this is most helpful - many thanks!

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