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Fountains Abbey: History
Fountains Abbey: Buildings
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Who was responsible for maintenance and repairs ? (15/33) William [Steill] binds himself by these presents
to repair and maintain the tenement [of Galphay] in all repairs
and fence-making at his court, except for large timber which will be delivered
to him, as necessary, by the cellarer or other officer
having charge of the woods
In most cases the tenant or keeper was liable for maintaining the lands and associated buildings. The cellarer or bursar of Fountains usually supervised any repair work that was to be carried out and the abbey normally provided and delivered the required timber.(60) In some cases, however, the tenant or keeper had to pay for the delivery of this timber. Thomas Payn, for example, who leased a farmhold from the abbey at Sleningford, agreed to repair and maintain all the walls, hedges, ditches and defences around the farmhold, as well as providing all the necessary nails, laths, mortar and thatch and other such ‘tenant-like’ requirements; large timber, however, was to be provided and transported by the abbot and monks at Thomas’ expense.(61) Richard Atkinson the
keeper of Morker grange in the early sixteenth century, was responsible
for all the mowing, threshing, hay-making
and shearing, and for making and repairing hedges and walls associated
with the grange and its properties. He was also to protect Morker
from trespassers and miscreants, and to bring any offenders to
court.(62) |
