What Was A Croft Fold?

[Sellergarth]

The details of a property left in a will of 1835 include `Outhouses and the Croft Fold`. Could anyone please explain what the `Croft Fold` was? Thanks

[Mamyalynne]

Simply a pen for keeping animals enclosed I think.

[Sellergarth]

Wow! Thanks for the prompt reply Mamyalynne. Given what I know of the area around the property at the time your answer seems quite feasible. Thank you.

[Buenchico]

The OED assigns no specific meaning to 'croft fold'.

'Fold' can mean (among other things, of course) any of the following:
1. A pen or enclosure for domestic animals, esp. sheep ;
2. An enclosed piece of ground forming part of a farm, as a farm-yard ;
3. The ‘yard’ belonging to a mill, etc.; a cluster of houses standing in such a yard ;
4. The sheep contained in a fold. Also †the movable fold, and the sheep penned in it

So your reference might simply refer to the enclosure (or to some other form of land) but it could equally include the sheep within such an enclosure.

[Buenchico]

PS: A useful tip.

Full access to the OED's content, via a personal subscription, costs over £200 per year but you can get it for free if you're a member of your local library, simply by entering your library card number here:
http://www.oed.com/loginpage

[DTCwordfan]

where your ancestors would keep their mother-in-laws!

[Sellergarth]

Thanks Buenchico for the helpful info and the `useful tip` it`s appreciated.
DTCwordfan ....... now there`s a possibility. :)

[Jackdaw33]

Probably a stone structure to house sheep during the winter, having been brought down from the hillsides. In Wales it would be called a house of ill repute.

[DTCwordfan]

Haw-haw, jackdaw......

[Sellergarth]

Now, now Jackdaw33 :)

[andres]

Lots of villages are called Folds.

[paddywak]

Around this area they were often called a pen-fold and were used to hold straying or impounded livestock were held by the authorities until they either located the owners or decided how to deal with them.

[Jackdaw33]

Paddy is also correct. Pen, meaning to confine, and fold, meaning flock. Essentially to stop animals from straying. I shall refrain from any further explanation re the uses of these premises beyond Offa's Dyke to avoid causing offence.

[Sellergarth]

Thanks everyone for taking the time to reply it`s greatly appreciated.

[Peter Pedant]

a small field/pen which is build near a farm house is also called in Darzet a " leigh " - rhymes with 'high'

shorter than a sheep pen I suppose