Rural Economy of Thames Ditton

From Dittopedia

Hunting and Forestry

Albert Rainbow mows the fields behind the old Rectory in Long Ditton.

Much of England was designated as forest, in the sense meaning a royal game preserve, and subject to forest law. Peasants were forbidden to poach or even to trespass on this land. The great Forest of Windsor was gradually extended to cover all of Surrey, and forest law accompanied it. Eventually the law was repealed in Surrey except in the north-west corner. ^[2]

Agriculture

Long Ditton farmhands Stan and Albert Rainbow, who lived at 6 Rectory Lane. They worked at Broom's Farm, Summerfield Lane, and Scott's Farm, Sugden Road

Surrey's soil is not of the best quality for agriculture, and there was a high proportion of heath and woodlands. Sheep were of primary importance, but the quality of wool from Surrey sheep was inferior to that from the Cotswolds and parts of the West Midlands. Surrey's people were therefore generally not as prosperous as in say, Norfolk or Essex. ^[2]

Haymaking at Broom's Farm, Ditton Hill

Albert Rainbow was a thatcher, but often worked at Broom's Farm. His wife, Lizzie, was a midwife, but also prepared corpses. They originally hailed from Hatfield.

River economy

But being so close to the River Thames, the Ditton area must have benefitted from fishing and river traffic. It was also close to royal palaces at Richmond, Hampton Court, Nonsuch and Oatlands. Kingston was a royal manor and described by John Leland (1502-1552) as ' the best market town of all Surrey '. By the early 16th century, Surrey had a good share of the large country houses and parks of England. ^[2]

References

• 1. Wikipedia
• 2. Burchett, P. 1984. A Historical Sketch of THAMES DITTON. Surrey: Thames Ditton and Weston Green Residents' Association. ISBN 0-904-81120-4.