Faced with the fact that turnpike hedges matched the two licence dates as well as the other old hedges the undeniable truth is that the first surveyors did their work before the 13th century. As Sherlock said, “When you have excluded the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth!” This led to a search by a non-historian for supportive evidence. The missing hedgerows on Washbrooks farm fitted exactly with the idea of Roman plans. Other field measurements varied in reliability but taken together form solid proof of their work. The Tax-free 5 actus squares only occur in places where travellers converged to make a crossing, (1) the marshy Washbrooks place, (2) the eastern gate to Burgess Hill, (3) the Warningore Bostel, (4 ) below the Clayton Hill crossing. Since this area of Sussex was the first part of Britain to be taken, perhaps with the help of some chieftains, changes were not too drastic and they took care not to offend the residents. Changes made later were seldom recorded on fresh maps, apart from buildings. The Wealden Forest to the North and the chalk cliffs to the South also protected the people in this area from quick invaders and drastic changes. Saxons and Normans would not reduce the capacity of the resident workers by altering established practices nor dare they alter boundaries! In Norman times the punishment for altering the boundaries without the King’s permission was ferocious. I’m sure people can find much supportive evidence in their own locality. Perhaps this work will cause Bertram , Stukely and Watson to be reinstated and the words Bos Hill Road and Coalharbour be accepted? It has been a long jump from modern maps with 13th century hedges through Roman times to Neolithic mathematicians but it’s been fun! I hope it will be for others! Lastly my sincere apologies to those whose names and information have been lost in the many scrappy notes taken over 30 years!
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