Along the Moors - Crudgington Green

Uptons Moor

The results of territorial squabbles between local landlords can still be seen on the moors today. Water’s Upton Moor, which lies on the south bank of the River Strine below Crudgington Green, was effectively created in 1640 when 135 acres of ‘waste’ were awarded to Sir Henry Wallop, Lord of Waters Upton. He received the land in arbitration after a series of disputes between his tenants and those of Sir Richard Leveson’s estate in Cherrington; who had been accused of overstocking cattle on moorland belonging to Water’s Upton.

After unsuccessfully petitioning Leveson to address their grievances, the villagers took it upon themselves to remedy the situation, impounding Cherrington cattle and in 1637 marching onto the moors to dig a large ditch, which diverted the Strine and enlarged their own part of the moor! It was in this vicinity that Kynnersley residents had maintained peat doles for at least 60 years, although what effect Wallop’s agreement had on that practice is hard to quantify. However, at least one traditional moorland pursuit appears to have gone by the wayside as a consequence of the accord. In exchange for Waters Upton Moor, Leveson won the exclusive right to fish all the watercourses in the moorlands. He appears to have upheld the privilege rigorously, decreeing that any inhabitants of Water’s Upton found fishing in local waters should have their nets cut!