Willey Medieval Settlement

1 The possible extent of the medieval settlement based on the OS map of 1886, 18SW.
2 There are two entries for Willey in Domesday, in Brinklow Hundred. The Phillimore edition gives a grid ref. of SP4984.
Ref 16,39 in Wibtoft and in Willey 1/2 hide. Fulk holds from him (Count of Meulan). Land for 4 ploughs. In lordship 2; 3 villagers and 4 smallholders with 2 ploughs. Meadow 40 acres. The value was and is 30s.
Ref 16,40 in the same village 2 1/2 hides. Robert holds from him (Count of Meulan). Land for 5 ploughs. In lordship 2. 5 villagers and 3 smallholders with 2 Frenchmen have 3 ploughs. Meadow 30 acres. The value was and is 50s. Saxi held these three lands freely before 1066.
3 The 1886 map shows a hamlet built around a lane with a right-angled dog-leg bit which creates three sides of a square. This continues to the west with a further kink and then stops. The ridge and furrow transcription shows survival on both sides tight up against this lane, so its hard to see what its purpose was unless it pre-dated the ridge and furrow. Further ridge and furrow abuts the settlement on all sides except on the north-eastern part, the area of known medieval earthworks. WA8873 is the site of a possible medieval boundary ditch. There is no church.