Boundaries

The west and south bounds of the Quarter are fully considered in 'Boundaries of Yardley' and are shown on Map 5. It will be seen that the Shirley and Yardley Wood Brooks are natural bounds in the south, their swampy valleys making a clear break through the woods. Spark and Haunch Brooks do not go far in defining the western border, however, and it is nor possible to decide whether Stoney Lane, Billesley Lane, and Barn Lane began as perambulation tracks along a negotiated line, or whether the border was fixed along existing paths. Of the 972 topographical details 'mossmoor' may have been the undrained Yardley Wood Brook valley, and 'cionda' is reasonably identified as Chinn Brook; but there is no certainty in placing 'spel brook', 'bull spring', or 'tall oak'. It can be no more than conjecture that they were Coldbath Brook, the source of Showell Green Brook, and the junction of Belle Walk with Yardley Wood Road. Why is 'spel brook' not identified with Haunch Brook, since that stream provides the boundary for three quarters of a mile?

This is because the Charter appears to ignore watercourses that define the border, listing only those that cross it. The vagueness of the landmarks given in the Charter may well be due to the fact that the boundary was clearly marked on the ground, either by running water or by tracks, blazed trees, perhaps by ditch and low bank, and did not need to be defined in written words that very few could read. It was not marked by hedge or fence, because it was the custom in Arden for stock to be allowed to roam freely on the common waste of the neighbour manors (but not to be driven).