Dalton Magna, Dalton Parva,

Dalton Brook.

Main Photo Content Jonathan Dabbs

This was a time when Thomas De Rotherham  the Archbishop of York owned considerable  land in Dalton and  endowed the College of Jesus in Rotherham, which he founded in 1482, with land in the Dalton parish.

In this medieval period the area was thought to be common land and also forested Royal hunting grounds, in the 14th and 15th centuries as the demand increased for land, the area now known as Dalton Magna was cleared and farm dwellings were built. This is probably quite correct as Dalton Magna was first recorded in this century as opposed to being referred to as simply Dalton.

Back then a farm labourer was paid the princely sum of  2/- a week, whilst the local carpenter and Mason would receive 3/- per week.  The farmers at Dalton in 1468 were ordered to yoke their pigs until Michaelmas day which fell on the 29th day of September that year, this was ordered by the Manorial Court of the time and the order was to ensure the preservation of crops. The fine for a breach of this order was 6d for every week pigs were found without a yoke.

There were present at Dalton ancient marker stones to show boundaries and the manorial court ruled that a fine of 6/- 8d would be applied to anyone removing the said stones

In 1480 Dalton amercement 2d Robert Trekett constable and his fellows sworn present that Katerina Erle 2d brewing against assize amerced.In the following year a further Dalton amercement 2d Robert Trekett constable and his fellows sworn present that Katerina Erle 2d brewed and sold beer against the assize So is amerced [ To punish by a fine imposed arbitrarily at the discretion of the court.]

In 1469 on the 28th of October one John Newark of Rotherham fell foul of the Great Court when he was caught removing Partridges from the warren and copped a 12d fine, further to that to add anouther feather in his cap he ruffled the feathers of  local farmer  Lex Breky by breaking his fence whilst taking the Partridges and copped a further 12d fine. No wonder he was brought before "The Beak" [Judge ]

On the 25th October 1471 the court ordered all tenants to repair the boundaries of cultivated land abutting on Coleryddyng. From which we learn that coal mining was taking place by the good old Dalton folk way back then, failure to complete the order before Martinmas on the 11th November would incur a 2d fine for each ditch, which were known as a Gappe in the period.

An even heavier fine would incur if the tenants failed to keep their cows or draught animals in the lords hay meadows or between the ricks, the fine for not doing so was 6s 8d

In 1482 there was a Dalton amercement 4d John Roides constable and others present John Denell [or] Devell has neglected a penalty enjoined on him at the last tourn in that he has not repaired the highway there So he incurs the penalty namely 4d

In the same year a further Dalton Penalty enjoined John Tagg constables and others present it is enjoined on Alexander Rookeby and Thomas Shaghe to scour a water-course there before the feat of the Invention of the Holy Cross next under penalty on both separately 4d.

The following year 1483 records Dalton amercements 12d John Tag constable and his fellows present John Tag 4d and Gilbert Atkinson 4d John Shaghe 4d and Gilbert Atkinson 4d not attending the tourn amerced John Denell or Devell 4d on 12 August 1483 at Dalton made an assault on John Kechyn by force of arms against the king’s peace so is amerced

Also in 1483 Dalton amercement 4d John Rawlyn constable and his fellows present John Moody 4d for not attending tourn, which means he failed to appear at Conisbrough Court.

Again in this year a Dalton Penalty enjoined John Tagg, constable, and his fellows present that it is enjoined on Alexander Rookeby and Thomas Shaghe to scour a water-course there before the feast of the Invention of the Holy Cross next under penalty on both separately 4d.

Then in 1483 Dalton amercements 12d John Tag, constable, and his fellows present that John Tag 4d and Gilbert Atkinson 4d John Shaghe 4d and Gilbert Atkinson 4d did not attend the tourn; therefore they have each individually put themselves in mercy as above assessed. John Denell [or Devell] 4d on 12 August in the year above said at Dalton made an assault

Moving to 1485
Dalton amercements 8d Robert Bug constable and his fellows sworn present Richard Lufday 4d and John Mody 4d for not coming to the tourn amerced Thomas Castelford elected constable and sworn