Farming Community
17th. CENTURY.
For the greater part of the century, the manor of Highnam was held by members of the Cooke family which extended into the early part of the 18th. century. It was during this century that the Cooke family obtained the Lassington manor.
Early in the century there were 36 Copyholders in Highnam manor having most of their land in open fields and 50% holding less than 20 acres. The largest Copyhold was 71 acres. Copyholds lasted up to 3 lives. In Lassington, life remained as in earlier times with there being a very small number of smallholders.
Highnam hamlet centred round the Green and Two Mile Lane. In 1607 there were 23 houses in Two Mile Lane ( also known as Buttingtons Lane), 2 houses in Slade Lane (a lane which linked Two Mile Lane with the Newent Road), 7 houses on Highnam Green and 5 farmhouses at Linton occupied by the larger Copyholders.
In addition were Highnam Court, The Vineyard and several houses at Over. In Lassington 10 houses were sited at the lower end of Lassington Lane and these included Astmans Farm House and opposite a Rectory which was moated. There were 15 open fields in Highnam Manor and 6 of them were reserved for residents. The land comprised 153 acres of arable land, 77 1/2 acres of meadow and 139 acres of pasture.
Lassington had 7 open fields these being sufficient to support the small population. Also in 1607 there was 182 acres of woodland in Highnam of which 21 acres stood at Pipers Grove.
