Page "Fleet Pond" Paragraph 12

In 1491, a new arrangement was instigated.

The Prior at Winchester began to lease Fleet Ponds and the pastures there to a tenant at Fleet Farm, at an annual rent of 23 shillings and 4 pence plus “ a hundred of the fishes, pike, tenches, perches, bream and roaches, to he carried and delivered ( to Winchester ) in a good and fresh state ”.

The tenants were required to maintain the bridge at their own expense, except that the Lord Prior would provide the timber.

There is a hint in this exception that woodland may not have been plentiful on Fleet Farm.