A modern name, by association with the Tree Hotel (11) at its foot. Before
1830, it was the Sheepway, a drovers' route connecting with others in two
directions – east to Cowley, and north through Meadow Lane (9) to the
Drove Acre. The Inclosure Map of 1830 shows the lane divided in two at the
top. One route (surviving as a footpath) went straight on as a churchway
to bring people to Iffley from the detached parish portion of Hockmore Street
in Cowley; one turned slightly south to enter Cowley by a different route,
and that was the sheepway. Drovers – or even local farmers moving their
flocks about – could not always go direct. They had to avoid pasture
which they were not allowed to use and, after 1700, turnpikes where they
would have to pay tolls. In the 13th century, Iffley farmers paid rent for
common pasture in Shotover Forest; in the 16th century they had pasture
in Cowley. See (11) The Tree Hotel for images. |
