The distribution of rabbit warrens in medieval England: an east–west divide?

Abstract

ABSTRACTFollowing their introduction into the British Isles by the Normans, rabbits were farmed in manmade warrens called coneygarths, whose so-called pillow mounds encouraged the species to burrow and facilitated their capture. The construction of pillow mounds represents a remarkably long-lived form of animal husbandry, which in some places, notably Dartmoor, remained in use until the early twentieth century. Despite some potential for surviving medieval examples, the vast majority of known pillow mounds are now thought to be post-medieval and consequently the landscapes of extant rabbit warrens are a reflection of the post-medieval warrening experience rather than that of the medieval period. Moreover, although former warrens are geographically widespread across England and Wales, their remains are more prevalent in western upland areas as an intensification of arable practices in eastern England during the postmedieval period likely removed many of that region’s former warrens. The study of documents produced by the medieval chancery reveals numerous references to rabbits and rabbit warrens throughout England, of which many have left no archaeological remains. These chancery rolls suggest that in contrast to surviving postmedieval warrens, those of the medieval period were more numerous in eastern England compared to elsewhere. They also imply that the warrens in eastern England were able to produce a surplus of rabbits that supported an export trade and supplied the royal court at Westminster, something that warrens in the remainder of England were less able to do.