Aspects of Kentish Local History

in the presence of the steward of the liberty, a trained lawyer who held the High Court of the prior in the North Hall of the priory. In the later fifteenth century the bartoner's court became an assembly where the tenants paid their rents. Judicial work had ceased altogether and the steward of the liberty no longer attended the meetings at the door of the brewery.
   Direct references to the barton in the last century before the Dissolution are somewhat scarce. In 1437 the account-roll of the prior-treasurer shows us that considerable quantitites of barley and oats were still taken to the barton for milling and malting. A record of the malt supplies at the barton in 1507 (Cant. MS. D.E. 147) makes it quite clear that the buildings were still in use on the eve of the Suppression. In 1535 the lease of the manor was said to yield an annual sum of £31, and separate rents at Colton were worth £1 19s. 4d. Five years later the Dissolution brought an abrubt end to a long epoch in the history of the ancient manor of Northwood.

Bartoner's Account, 1311-12
    Compotus fratris Alari Oysel Berthonarii dominica proxima ante
     festum.  a festo Sci. Luce evangeliste Anno Regni Regis
     Edwardi quinto. usque ad dominicam proximam ante festum 
     Sci.  Michaelis Anno regni regis Edwardi sexto.

                                                                                     xx
Recept' De tempore post dominum H. Mot de ordeo iiii. x sum. vi bus.    di bus.
                                                                                      summa patet.
Recept' de Custode de Eastekent
                                                           xx
    De Monketone de ordeo palmali¹  iiii. vii sum. vii bus.
    De Eastria de ordeo palmali xxiiii sum. iii bus.
    Item de ordeo yemali (2) x sum. iii bus.
    De adesham de Gavelkorn (3) xxx sum.
    Item de manerio de ordeo palmali xxxvii sum. vi bus.
    De Icham de ordeo palmali cxxxi sum. iii bus.
    Item de ordeo yemali lxxvi sum. iii bus.
    Item de firma de Bourne de ordeo palmali ix sum.
    De Cherteham de ordeo palmali xxvi sum.
    De Godmeresham de ordeo palmali xix sum.
    Item x sum.
    Inde de firma ate Hoke vii sum.
    De Broke de ordeo palmali ix sum.
Summa ordei recepti de Custode de Eastekent cccc. lxxi sum. i bus.

Recept' de Custode de Waldis.
    De Coptone de ordeo palmali        xv sum.
    De Welle       "       "        "                iii sum.
    De Hollingbourne "        "                 x sum.

  ¹  Spring barley.
   ²  Autumn barley.
   ³  Gravel-corn.