Agricultural History Review, Volume 43 Part 1 (1995), pp. 1–16

Manorial compoti are used to describe the demesne agriculture of Winchester Cathedral Priory on its chalkland manors in Wihshire between 1248 and 1340. The demesnes are found to have been operated largely within the two-field systems of the viUs even where, at first sight, the use of independent furlongs seems to be suggested. The disadvantages of this system were partly offset by the priory's near monopoly of pasture, hay and timber resources, as well as by the absence of sub-manors and freeholds. Nevertheless, productivity is found to be low - although no lower than on other demesnes in the same district - but some evidence of intensification through the use of legumes and relatively high stocking ratios has been found for certain cereals on a few manors where market sale rather than monastic supply was the main object of arable farming. 

Complete Volume PDF