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See also other map comparisons : 1901 and 2007 maps and 1765 and 1901 maps
On the right is a map for 2007 based on aerial photographs, on the right is the Duke of Kingston's map of 1765 complete with field names.
This map comparison covers the whole of the Durant era and more recent times.
The east-centre part of the parish show little change in the Durant era. Hubball Farm was the Grange for Black Ladies Priory to the East and was one of the main farms in the parish in the period up to 1765. Park Farm had recently been 'disparked' and so the fields were comparatively large already. Some combination of smaller fields is evident. These farms represent the main farmland in 1765. Area map
The straightness of Offoxey Road can lead one to think it is a roman road. It is certainly straight and ignores the contours. This was however, Durant's work and a major reshaping of this part of the parish.
The 1765 map shows a track leading West from Bishops Wood skirting the parish boundary before emerging into Tong Knoll 'common' land but the main East-West track at this time was Hubbal Lane: Area map. It is joined by a track from Hubbal running north which has completely disappeared. At Tong Norton there was a bit of a track heading East but the main track ran NE into Tong Knoll. Area map
Not only was the line of Offoxey road new (not following any field boundaries) but the fields to the north and south were completely remodelled as well. This seems an excessive amount of effort for little economic return. I can only think that the loss of Tong Knoll to Weston Park had something to do with it, perhaps the Earl of Bradford was persuaded to pay for the new road as part of the deal as losing the Knoll would mean losing the northern trackway to the Holt.
If you look at 'Friar's Lane' from Tong to Tong Norton in 1765, it then followed a sinuous course. Area map. Originally I wondered if this was cartographer's licence, but the change of route is confirmed in the aerial photograph where you can see a few ghosts of the old course. I can't think of an obvious reason why Durant needed to do this, may be the making of the Church Pool required this but in some places it has been brought closer to the stream, perhaps it was just too narrow. Many of the smallholdings to the south-east of the village were combined at some stage. Note that 'Church Farm' is called 'Inn Farm' confirming the location of the old Bell Inn opposite the Church.
The Ruckley estate seems to have been substantially remodelled during this time with the building of the main house and Ruckleywood Farm as well as the railway. Area map.
The 1765 maps shows an open area 'Norton Heath' between Norton and Lizard Farms and this must have been enclosed in the Durant time. Lack of map information precludes more comment. Area map.
The changes to the Kingston mansion at Tong Castle is quite amazing (Area map). The original Tong Mill was drowned under the Church Pool when Durant landscaped the Estate. Tong's original Mill pond was deepened and extended. There was also a direct drive to Tong Park and the main Kingston castle entrance was nearly exactly where the present bye-pass meets the old road. The Durant/Capability Brown landscaping included the planting of Castle Wood to obscure the view to the Castle except from the Church Pool track. Now the M54 cuts through it all (see Area map)
Note this material is not included in the book.
Copyright © 2007 through 2010 Discovering Tong