Pinfold

Pinfold

Pinfold, in Medieval Britain, is an area where stray animals were rounded up if their owners failed to properly supervise their use of common grazing land. A fine had to be paid for their release. ["Patrick Brompton church and village" magazine; text by Jane Hatcher]

An alternative spelling/pronunciation was "poundfield", which implies a relation to the modern English word " [im] pound". [Plaque on pinfold site in Higham, Lancashire]

The terms "pinfold" and "pound" are Saxon in origin. "Pundfald" and "pund" both mean an enclosure. There appears to be no difference between a pinfold and a village pound. The term pinfold seems to be more popular in the north and east of the UK whilst in the south and west the term pound is more popular.

Originally built to hold animals which were found straying from their owners land or were found grazing on the common without common rights. The animals would not be released until a fine had been paid to the "pinder" who was an officer of the lord of the manor. Breaking into the pinfold to release the animals was an offence punishable by a fine and/or imprisonment. They were also used by drovers taking their stock to market. The pinfold was used to pen the animals overnight for a small fee.

The size and shape of pinfolds varies, some are four sided: rectangular, square and irregular, others are circular. In size they vary from a few square metres to over 0.5 ha. Pinfolds are known to date from the medieval period. By the 16th century most villages and townships would have had a pinfold. Most of what remains today would date from the 16th and 17th centuries. Some, like Tockholes Pinfold in Lancashire are listed buildings but most have fallen into disrepair. [Plaque at Tockholes Pinfold, Lancashire [http://farm1.static.flickr.com/213/518238677_c6e66e34d2.jpg?v=0/ Tockholes Pinfold] ]

The artist Andy Goldsworthy has produced a series of sculptures in several of the pinfolds in Cumbria. [ [http://www.sheepfolds.org" Sheepfolds & Pinfolds, Cumbrian sculpture project by Andy Goldsworthy] ]

References

ee also

* Pound
* Village lock-up
* Pinfold, Cheshire — a settlement in Cheshire
* Pinfold, Lancashire — a hamlet in the civil parish of Scarisbrick, Lancashire

External links

* [http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=52.992706,-0.679607&ie=UTF8&ll=52.992706,-0.679607&spn=0.001051,0.001845&t=h&z=19&iwloc=addr&om=1 Google maps] aerial view of a pinfold in Hougham, Lincolnshire


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  • Pinfold — Pin fold , n. [For pindfold. See {Pinder}, {Pound} an inclosure, and {Fold} an inclosure.] A place in which stray cattle or domestic animals are confined; a pound; a penfold. Shak. [1913 Webster] A parish pinfold begirt by its high hedge. Sir W.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • pinfold — [pin′fōld΄] n. [ME pynfold < OE pundfald < pund,POUND3 + fald,FOLD2] a place where stray cattle, etc. are confined …   English World dictionary

  • Pinfold — Andrew Pinfold (* 14. August 1978) ist ein kanadischer Radrennfahrer. Andrew Pinfold begann seine Karriere 1999 bei dem Radsportteam Jet Fuel Coffee Vitasoy. 2003 fuhr er für die Mannschaft Atlas Cold Italpasta, wo er jeweils eine Etappe bei der… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Pinfold — This interesting surname, with variant spelling Pinfold, derives from the Olde English pre 7th Century pundfald , (medieval English punfold ), meaning a pound where stray animals were kept, and was originally given either as a metonymic… …   Surnames reference

  • pinfold — /pin fohld /, n. 1. a pound for stray animals. 2. a fold, as for sheep or cattle. 3. a place of confinement or restraint. v.t. 4. to confine in or as in a pinfold. [1150 1200; late ME pynfold for *pindfold, equiv. to OE pynd(an) to impound (deriv …   Universalium

  • pinfold — 1. noun An open enclosure for animals, especially an area where stray animals were rounded up if their owners failed to properly supervise their use of common grazing land. 2. verb To confine animals in a pinfold …   Wiktionary

  • pinfold — /ˈpɪnfoʊld/ (say pinfohld) noun 1. a pound for stray animals. 2. a fold, as for sheep or cattle. –verb (t) 3. to confine in or as in a pinfold. {pin(d) (verb) impound + fold2; replacing Middle English pondfold, Old English pundfald. Compare… …  

  • pinfold — n. & v. n. a pound for stray cattle etc. v.tr. confine (cattle) in a pinfold. Etymology: OE pundfald (as POUND(3), FOLD(2)) …   Useful english dictionary

  • Pinfold and MacKenney — Terry Pinfold and Harry MacKenney were convicted of murder based on the testimony of a sole witness. This witness testified the pair murdered a man, but this man was later known to be alive three years after his alleged slaying. The murder… …   Wikipedia

  • pinfold — noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English pundfald, from pund enclosure + fald fold Date: 13th century 1. pound II,1a 2. a place of restraint …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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