Hedgerows

Background

As part of the Environment Act, 1995, the Hedgerow Regulations were introduced in June 1997 to protect established hedgerows under threat from changes in agriculture – large fields are easier to manage than smaller ones.  The regulations don’t apply to hedges around houses.  Hedgerows in the countryside fall into two groups:

• Protected – which is defined by size or location
• Important – which is defined by age, the type and number of species and significance in the larger landscape or in relation to an historic building

You can find out more about this online www.gov.uk/guidance/countryside-hedgerows-regulation-and-management

The history of a hedgerow may be important if you are investigating a boundary dispute.  Many of the sources you can use overlap with those referred to in Research Mini Guide: Property Boundaries.

What records are there?

Ordnance Survey Maps

Since these include hedgerows and field boundaries, these are the best place to start.  Check 6 inch (1:10,000) Ordnance Survey map first because this will give you a good perspective of the hedgerow in relation to the surrounding area.  Then check the more detailed 25 inch (1:2,500) maps.  For more information please see Research Mini Guide: Ordnance Survey Maps.

Tithe Maps and Apportionments

Most tithe maps were drawn up between 1836 and the late 1840s.  Although they were created as part of the process to rationalise the system for collecting tithe payments they are an important resource for anyone researching the history of the landscape.  They include information about land ownership and use as well as field and parish boundaries.  For more information please see Research Mini Guide: Tithe Maps.

Inclosure Maps and Awards

The inclosure of the open fields and commons had a dramatic effect on the landscape as landowners planted hedges to mark the boundaries of their new blocks of land.  Most inclosure maps and awards were made between 1750 and 1850 but there is a lot of variation.  They include information about land ownership and use as well as field and parish boundaries.  For more information please see Research Mini Guide: Inclosure Maps.

Estate Maps and Records

Estate maps vary a lot in the amount of detail they include and their quality.  The earliest date from the mid-16^th century and they continue into the 19^th century.  For more information please see Research Mini Guide: Estate Records.

Sale Particulars

These documents have no official or legal status but they can be useful.  They are drawn up when a property, estate or piece of land is sold and often include a plan or map.  From 1884, the map is usually based on the relevant Ordnance Survey sheet.

How to find the records

For more information about the records listed above, please use the relevant Research Mini Guide.

You can also try searching the online catalogue for any related items. Please bear in mind that not all of the records held at Gloucestershire Archives are indexed by place name.

Select the “Quick Search” option and type any relevant keywords into the Any Text field. Click on “search” and then “overview of records” to view the list of items under that reference.

Click on the “findingref” number on the left hand side to view more information about each item. You can find out how to search our online catalogue in a more sophisticated way by looking at the help page and FAQs.