Oldest records of orchards

1641 - Hawtree Orchard

'Barn ETC Adjoining Hawtree House in Pepper Alley in Luton. Sale by Thos. Sane, of Luton, yeoman (Exor. of Will of Ann Norris) to Rob. Stevens, of Luton, Butcher, of the following property in Luton: 

- A barn standing in the neither [nether, i.e. back] yard of the house wherein Rob. Stevens dwells (called Hawtree House), containing two bays and built at the cost of Rob Stevens also the plot of land between the barn and the lane called Pepper Alley [2], and on the W. by the said back-yard, and abutting on the N. upon Hawtree Orchard, and on the S. by Thos. Sigge's barn.'

Dated: 1 June, 1641
Accession number: 17/39/61, Culture Trust Luton
[2] Pepper Alley was later renamed to Park Lane and now lies below the Luton Point shopping centre. 

1707 - St Mary's vicarage orchard

St Mary's is the main Anglican church in Luton. Originally constructed in the 12th century, it is the only Grade I listed building in the town. 

According to a late 19th century history of the church in Luton by Henry Hobbe, the vicarage orchard of St Mary's Church in Luton is "fended by mote of water." Two of the three small meadows abutting on this pool or moat are called in the tithe map of 1844, 'Blackwater Meadow' (No. 1083) and 'Pondwick Meadow' (No. 1093). 

In a map of the vicarage grounds from 1845, the churchyard and vicarage are depicted as separated from these meadows by a causeway called 'Blackwater Lane'. The latter was bounded by two ditches, at least one of them emptying itself into the River Lea.

The vicarage house in Luton is first mentioned in a 1707 terrier (register) of church property (accession number P85/2/1/1, Bedfordshire Archives). The house is described as follows:

'Homestall The vicarage house is built with Timber and studded and lime walls between the studs [sic] and covered with Tiles and contains a Kitchen floored with brick one Hall floored with brick two Parlors [sic] floored with deal boards and ceiled a Brewhouse with an earthen floor a Pantry with office conveniences with an earthen floor also six rooms above stairs with a closett [sic] floored with boards and ceiled'.

Additionally there was: 'one tenement next the Church yard now in the occupation of George Read three bays built with timber and studded with walls of Timber between the Studds and covered with Tyles [sic] one stable one outhouse next the Church yard built with Timber covered with Tyles and Brick walls between the studs.'

The terrier went on: 'The Vicarage house hath an orchard one acre and a half of ground fenced in by a Mote [sic] of water.'