Cratley
Cratley was a village in Nottinghamshire, now lost. It is listed as Crastell in the Domesday Book of 1086.
The village may have been located close to North Laithes Farm at Kneesall; 53°10’12"N, 0°57’0"W. An alternative site east of Laund Wood has been suggested. Other names appearing in ecods for the village are Cratela and Creilage. Two field names on the Estate Map of the Liberty of Rufford (which is to say the Rufford Estate) in 1637 are given as East and West Credlin.
History
The Domesday Book records that Cratley had 22 villeins and 2 bordars, 4 ploughlands, 2 lord's plough teams for the demesne lands of the manor. and 9 men's plough teams.
The total population in 1086 was 24 households, which was quite large for the time. According to the Domesday Book, tax was paid on 26 acres of demense meadow land, and half a league of woodland[1]
The Lord of the Manor before the Conquest had been Ulf Fenman, but by 1086 it was Gilbert de Gant, who was a Tenant-in-chief of the capital manor, held directly of the Crown.
Soon after the foundation of Rufford Abbey by Gilbert de Gant, on 12 July 1147,[2] Cratley was reduced to a grange. The villagers were gradually evicted and resettled at Wellow.[3]
References
- ↑ Cratley in the Domesday Book
- ↑ Worksop Heritage Tail: Rufford History
- ↑ Rufford Charters, Vol 2, p.390: The Thoroton Society of Nottinghamshire; Record Series Vol XXX, ed. C J Holdsworth
