An enclosure where stray or unlawfully kept animals were held until reclaimed by their owners.
A pound was an enclosure used to hold animals that had strayed, trespassed or been found in breach of manorial regulations.
When animals were impounded, their owners were usually required to pay a charge before the animals could be released. The keeping of a pound was often the responsibility of a manorial official such as a pinder.
References to pounds in court rolls provide evidence of the regulation of livestock, grazing rights and the importance of maintaining boundaries between different areas of land.
See also:
Pinder
Common Rights
Pasture
Amercement
