At Water

The village of Hanworth has a large and ancient common. I often cross it on my way to Norwich. On an autumn morning, I have often come across a herd of shaggy longhorned cattle in the fog, their breath hanging in wreaths of mist about them - there is something mediaeval about it.
I haven't seen cattle there for some time but in the early afternoon heat as I passed,I saw a motley herd standing in the sparse shadow afforded them by the trees near the pond. Some of the cows were wading into the water to quench their thirst.

The name of the village is believed to derive from the name of a Danish warrior, Hagana (anglicised to "Han"), and "worth" meaning waters, which refers to the two streams, Scarrow beck and Hagon Beck, which surround the parish.
The Common is very ancient having been amassed by wealthy bluebloods many centuries ago but eventually passed into collective ownership.
In the mid nineteenth century, the village was a thriving community of about 230 people and a number of well known artists of the day including Humphry Repton and John Sell Cotman came to paint local views. There were a number of thriving businesses including a dressmaker, a stonemason, a blacksmith and a woodcarver. Since at least the early nineteenth century, the grazing on the common has been managed by a committee of local residents. Originally local grazed their cattle there but nowadays they lease the grazing to nearby farms. In 2004, a local toff attempted to annexe the land and charge the villagers for use of the common. A legal battle ensued which ultimately went to the House of Lords. The toff was ousted and the villagers right to the land was upheld.