Economic History

The Domesday entry does not distinguish between Great and Little Stretton, but by the late 12th century Little Stretton had certainly become a separate township. Though separated for ecclesiastical purposes, the two Strettons may, however, have continued to share the same open fields.

In 12-29 Richard de Harcourt had in the township 18 virgates, which were held in villeinage, but the early existence of free tenants too is indicated by John Doseville's possession in 1335 of 10 marks rent at Little Stretton, held of William de Harcourt in free socage. In 1381 the poll tax was paid by 17 free tenants, a land-holder, 2 cottagers, and 15 servants. As tenants on ancient demesne of the Crown, inhabitants of Littlc Stretton had special privileges; an instance of the way in which they exercised them is seen in the action brought by the little writ of right in Thomas de Harcourt' s court in 1392.

The village fields remained uninclosed until the 18th century, though part of the lands of Owston Abbey in I360 was held in severalty and perhaps inclosed. Several 16th century testamentary inventories suggest that a three-course system of cultivation was then employed: Robert Freer, for example, who died in 1591, had 9 a. under peas, and 9 a. of wheat, rye, and barley, with presumably other parcels lying fallow. Glebe terriers of King's Norton, describing land in the fields of Little Stretton in the 17th century, mention Nether, Bandaile, and Mingled Fields.

The open fields were inclosed in 1771 There were then about 626 a., owned by 16 proprietors, The largest landowner, Sir Robert Kite, received an allotment of 115 a. Only 2 people were allotted fewer than 10a., while 4 received between 10a and 20 a. Much of the open-field land had been held by several substantial freeholders, each with about 2 or 3 yardlands before the inclosure, who were allotted 30a. to 60a, each. Twenty acres were allotted to the Vicar of King's Norton in commutation of the small tithes, and about 113 a. were awarded to the impropriator for the great tithes.

The land has been worked by a small number of farmers and graziers in the 19th and 20h centuries: 4 in 1846 and 1861, 6 in 1863, and only one in addition to the farm manager of the C.W.S. in 1932, There have been few inhabitants in non-agricultural employment, but some framework knitting was carried on in the 18th century, There was an inn the 'Red Lion' in the 19th century.

The Workhouse

In the late 18th century there were separate overseers of the poor for Little Stretton, and there was a workhouse. In 1802-3 18 adults and 8 children received out-relief but there was no mention of the workhouse.

Dating Old Documents