Fold Villages
Encyclopedia
These are a number of villages in the Weald
of Surrey
and Sussex
, whose suffix of -fold indicates a common origin as Saxon
settlements in cleared areas of woodland.
Such settlements were established on the better-drained soils of the Weald, the word "fold" being derived from the Old English "falod" meaning a staked-off pasture area. This indicates that the settlers were probably herders of domesticated animals such as sheep, cattle and pigs rather than arable farmers. The same source suggests that such folds were occupied on a seasonal basis with stock being moved by drove roads between the folds and the coastal grazing areas, permanent occupation of the folds being completed by the end of the 12th century.
Examples of the Fold Villages include Alfold
, Dunsfold
, Chiddingfold
and Runfold
.
Weald
The Weald is the name given to an area in South East England situated between the parallel chalk escarpments of the North and the South Downs. It should be regarded as three separate parts: the sandstone "High Weald" in the centre; the clay "Low Weald" periphery; and the Greensand Ridge which...
of Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
and Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
, whose suffix of -fold indicates a common origin as Saxon
Anglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
settlements in cleared areas of woodland.
Such settlements were established on the better-drained soils of the Weald, the word "fold" being derived from the Old English "falod" meaning a staked-off pasture area. This indicates that the settlers were probably herders of domesticated animals such as sheep, cattle and pigs rather than arable farmers. The same source suggests that such folds were occupied on a seasonal basis with stock being moved by drove roads between the folds and the coastal grazing areas, permanent occupation of the folds being completed by the end of the 12th century.
Examples of the Fold Villages include Alfold
Alfold
Alfold is small village and civil parish on the Surrey/West Sussex border in England. The parish clerk is Mrs L.R. Enticknap.Originally sited perhaps for the glass making . Charcoal was extensively burnt in the parish for gunpowder works in Dunsfold, Cranleigh, and Sussex.Alfold is not mentioned in...
, Dunsfold
Dunsfold
Dunsfold is a village in the Waverley district of the county of Surrey, England, 8.7 miles south of Guildford. The census area Chiddingfold and Dunsfold has a population of 3,812.-History:...
, Chiddingfold
Chiddingfold
Chiddingfold is a village and civil parish in the heart of The Weald in the Waverley district of Surrey, England. It lies on the A283 between Milford and Petworth...
and Runfold
Runfold
Runfold is a village in Surrey, U.K., about 2 miles NNE of Farnham.Runfold lies on the ancient trackway known as the Pilgrims' Way and on the former route of the A31 road, which has by-passed the village since the early 1990s...
.