The Liberty and Bailiwick of Stoborough - Hon. George Mentz JD MBA CWM

The Character and Extent of the Waste Lands

Estimating the Manorial Waste within the Liberty of Stoborough

Context

In manorial‐law terms, “waste” refers to the commons, heathland, moor, foreshore and other un‐enclosed lands under the control of the manor or liberty. For the Liberty of Stoborough, these lands formed an integral part of its jurisdictional and resource value: grazing rights, sand and clay extraction, foreshore access, peat or bog extraction, and so on.

According to historical records, the Liberty and Manor of Stoborough comprised approximately 2,670 acres, including about 150 acres of water. Lord Stoborough

Assumptions for Waste Calculation

Let us adopt the following assumptions in order to estimate the “waste” component:

1. Total manorial territory: 2,670 acres (≈ 1,081 hectares)

2. Water component (rivers, marsh, foreshore inland): 150 acres (≈ 61 ha)

3. The remaining land (2,520 acres) is a mix of fields, heath, meadows, foreshore and commons.

4. Historically, heath/commons/waste in this kind of liberty might comprise 30–50% of the non‐water land, depending on local terrain (heathland, foreshore, marsh) and manorial enclosure patterns.

5. Therefore, we estimate “waste” lands = non‐water lands × percentage of common/waste.

Estimated Range of Waste Lands

• Lower estimate (30%): 2,520 acres × 0.30 ≈ 756 acres

• Mid estimate (40%): 2,520 acres × 0.40 ≈ 1,008 acres

• Higher estimate (50%): 2,520 acres × 0.50 ≈ 1,260 acres

Thus, the Liberty of Stoborough may historically have contained between ~750 and ~1,260 acres of manorial waste/commons lands, in addition to its water holdings.

Qualitative Factors

• The territory included heathland (noted for Stoborough Heath) which is common/waste by nature.

• Foreshore and tidal meadows along the River Frome and toward Poole Harbour are often un‐enclosed “waste” or commons in manorial rights.

• Sand, clay and minor mineral extractions within waste lands enhance their value and justify their inclusion as “waste rights.”

• Over time some of that waste may have been enclosed, sold or leased — so the historic maximum might exceed what remains today.

Implications for Heritage & Resource Value

• The larger the “waste” component, the greater the liberty’s historical freedom: more grazing rights, more resource rights, less feudal enfranchisement.

• From a heritage / jurisdictional viewpoint, identifying circa 1,000 acres of waste emphasises the scale of the liberty’s autonomy.

• For modern purposes (conservation, heritage tourism, valuation) this estimate supports the narrative of significant “commons” component in Stoborough’s estate.

Caveats & Limitations

• The 2,670-acre figure is itself derived from 19th century sources and may not reflect earlier boundaries. Lord Stoborough

• The percentage of waste lands is an estimate; actual historic enclosure, tenancy, or manorial farming may reduce the actual figure.

• “Waste” in manorial law has a subtly different meaning than modern “wasteland” — it can include productive heaths, grazing commons and foreshore rights.

• This article is for heritage and educational discussion — not legal or land-valuation advice.

Conclusion

Based on historic acreage data for the Liberty of Stoborough and conservative assumptions about the proportion of manorial waste/commons within that territory, it is reasonable to estimate the liberty held approximately 750-1,260 acres of waste lands.
Such a scale underscores the importance of the liberty’s resource, jurisdictional and communal heritage — reinforcing its role not just as a manor, but as a substantial liberty with significant unenclosed lands under its historic control.