b'Belthorpe Field Names in 1849Mike PrattI t is interesting to see if we can work out why some ofSalt Becks (Nos 14, 25) might seem problematic the fields in the preceding Tithe Apportionment weregiven that we can assume that it has nothing to do named the way they were. with the production of salt as field names closer to Some of them contain surname references thatthe sea might suggest. The authorities are of no direct are known from other documents: Seller, Smith,help in this respect until we come to Salton which Rogerson, Holderness, Rispin, Todd, Williamson,is explained as Tun by the sallows 4meaning by the Clarkson, Turner. These might be of interest to familywillows which is a distinct possibility.historians. Wheels (in Nos 7 & 8) must relate to a name like It is tempting to see Lousey Close (No. 16) asWheelock which is a very winding river 5 . This is indicative of the quality of the land although it isespecially apparent when you see that one boundary possible that it refers to land with a pig-sty 1 ! is very winding as it follows the course of Fangfoss The most intriguing field name by far is BellerbyBeck (a continuation of Awnams Beck).Nooking. Nook, Nooked, Nookerty and NookingCarr is fairly common (Nos 28 & 29) as an all signify land with many corners 2 . The field inindication of the boggy land that borders Salt Beck.question, No. 50, has eight in all! Bellerby is evenBottomless Well Close (No 38 & 49) could be more interesting. I was prepared to pass it by as aself-explanatory (like a number of the names not surname but it is possibly related to Belthorpe. Thecovered here), although knowledge of the fields might possible origin of Belthorpe is considered in its ownhelp with confirmation.right following on from this article. According to oneAs a note on the reference works used for these authority 3 , in its first element, Bellerby could sharefield name derivations it is worth observing that the same Old Norse byname of Belgr (via Belgerbi,both are useful but if you had to have just one it Belegerebi, Belgereby, and Belgreby), the literalwould have to be Eilert Ekwalls. It should be in meaning of which is given as a bag. every local historians library!1John Field, English Field Names: A Dictionary, David & Charles, 1972.2John Field, as previous.3Eilert Ekwall, The Concise Oxford English Dictionary of English Place-Names, Oxford at the ClarendonPress, 1964.4Eilert Ekwall, as previous.5Eilert Ekwall, as previous.The Fawcetts of BelthorpeBased on material supplied by Andrew Sefton & Mike PrattT he census returns from 1841 to 1901 show theworkers. At the previous census in 1891, Henry and Fawcett family as tenants at High Belthorpe for theDorothy had two servants and a Governess for their majority of that time: three children.Trade directories do not tell us much more Date Head of Household Acreage apart from Henry Fawcett being named Farmer & 1841 John Fawcett Landowner in 1892 at Belthorpe Stud Farm. By 1901, 1851 John Fawcett 415 Francis Jennings Fawcett, Henrys son aged 22, is identified as a Horse Breeder.1861 John Fawcett 500 Although we cannot provide any informed account 1871 John Fawcett 500 of the Fawcett lineage, coverage in the newspapers 1881 William Bielby of the time does give us two snapshots. Firstly, there was wide coverage in 1872 of an outbreak of cattle 1891 Henry Fawcett plague:1901 Henry Fawcett John Fawcett, farmer, Belthorpe (a village closely adjoining to Yapham, the seat of the present In 1901, Henry & Dorothy his wife, had threeoutbreak of rinderpest), was charged with having in children and one servant. In the Foremans Househis possession three beasts affected with rinderpest, there were fourteen: David and Mary Brown with sixand neglecting with all possible speed to report children and one servant, Marys father, plus five farmthe fact to the police authorities. The charge was BULLETIN 17 339'