Purlieu facts for kids
Purlieu is an old word that describes the areas of land right next to a royal forest. Imagine a big, ancient forest owned by the king or queen. The "purlieu" would be the land just outside its official boundary.
This term comes from the old English "Forest Law." A purlieu was land that used to be part of the royal forest but was later officially separated from it. This separation happened through a process called a "perambulation," which was like a detailed walk to mark the exact borders.
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What Does Purlieu Mean?
The word purlieu (or sometimes purley) comes from an old French legal term, pourallé lieu. This means "a place to go through" or "a place walked around." It refers to the act of walking around an area to figure out its exact boundaries. Think of it like mapping out the edges of a property or a town.
Who Was a Purlieu-Man?
If someone owned land in a purlieu that was worth at least forty shillings a year, they were called a purlieu-man or purley-man. These landowners got special benefits because their land was no longer strictly under the old Forest Law. They had more freedom to use their land as they wished, unlike land still inside the royal forest.
Where Can You Find Purlieu Today?
Even though the old Forest Laws are mostly gone, the word "purlieu" still lives on! You can find it in the names of places, especially in England.
Purlieu in Place Names
- Dibden Purlieu in Hampshire: This town is right on the edge of the famous New Forest.
- Bedford Purlieus: This area was once part of a large forest called Rockingham Forest. Today, it's a special nature reserve.
- Purley in London: A district in the south of London.
- Purley on Thames in Berkshire: A village located by the River Thames.
The word also survives as a surname, like in the name Purley.
