Exwick History Society

The Field at Voghay

The field which the late Victorian OS map shows as an osier-growing bed is shown on the earlier Tithe Map of 1839. However, this earlier map refers to it, not as a Withy-bed, but as 'Voghay Orchard'.

Perhaps this field was not used for osier-growing until late Victorian times or, it maybe that the the word 'orchard' was usedon the Tithe Map in its widest sense (to encompass more than just fruit trees).

The word 'orchard' is sometimes applied to 'a small cultivated wood without undergrowth' (and until the 15th century it could even mean a 'vegetable garden').  

Was the surveyor for the 1839 tithe map applying the words 'Voghay Orchard' in this less usual sense - to a 'crop' of small willow sticks ?

The Local Cottage Industry

Is anything known about local basket-making ? Or other local cottage industries that made use of osier willows ?