Enborne

Early records show that the at one time up to at least 16 acre Reddings copse in East Enborne was held by the family of the barons de Pinkney and was granted by them to William de Clervaux or Nicholas Aufryke.[4] By the middle of the thirteenth century De Clervaux had granted his lands in East Enborne to the Prior of Sandleford, who also acquired the lands held by Aufryke. Reddings copse belonged to one or other of these.[5] Sandleford Priory had it until the priory's property was taken over by the Dean and Canons of Windsor of St George's Chapel in the fifteenth century. Various records of the sale of woods or lease of Readings Coppice survive which indicate tenants between 1585 and 1748. In the nineteenth century a railway in a deep cutting was built through its heart and in 1996 the by then disused railway was replaced by a wider four-lane motorway with lay-bys.

• 19 February 1585.[6] Sale by the Dean and Canons of Windsor, to Thomas Dannett of Boveney,[7] Buckinghamshire, esquire, and John Kempe of Est Enborne [East Enborne], yeoman, for £33 6s 8d, of 16 acres in Readinges Coppice, to cut (under certain conditions) and carry away before 1 July 1586, and leave what the law requires.
• 4 November 1618.[8] Lease by the Dean and Canons of Windsor, to John Dean of Sandleford, Berkshire, gentleman, of Readings coppice and a close lately planted with underwood, for 21 years at £4. With Bond for £30 to hold the Dean and Canons of Windsor harmless against Robert Deale of Henwick, Berkshire, Elizabeth his wife and John Deale junior, his son. Another bond for £20. Counterpart. Witnesses: Robert Boswell, William Brofarton.
• 16 March 1624.[9] Renewal of lease of Readings Coppice, by the Dean and Canons of Windsor, to John Dean of Sandleford, Berkshire, gentleman, of Readings coppice and a close lately planted with underwood, for 21 years at £4. Witnesses: William Here, John Combes.
• 28 July 1663.[10] Lease by the Dean and Canons of Windsor, to John Seely of Newbery [Newbury], Berkshire, woolen draper, of Readings coppice and a close lately planted with underwood. Witnesses: Francis Ridley, William Isaacks, Thomas Monck.
• 10 May 1670.[11] Renewal of lease of Readings Coppice by the Dean and Canons of Windsor, to John Seely [died 1678] of Newbery [Newbury],[12] Berkshire, woolen draper, of Readings coppice and a close lately planted with underwood.
• 18 December 1685.[13] Lease of Readings Coppice by the Dean and Canons of Windsor, to Eleanor Seely of Greenham, Berkshire, widow, of Readings coppice and a close lately planted with underwood. Endorsed with her surrender 23 June 1690 for a new lease to John Edmunds of Newbury, gentleman. Counterpart. Witnesses to lease: Ellenor [Eleanor] Sealy, William Baron, Joseph Guy, William Shower. Witnesses to the endorsement: Seth Lyferd, No. Starling, John Foster, Thomas Jemmell.
• 12 July 1705[14] Lease of Readings Coppice by the Dean and Canons of Windsor, to Benjamin Edmunds of the City of London, merchant. Counterpart. Witnesses: Benjamin Avery, Richard Avery, Richard Holmes junior.
• 25 May 1720.[15] Lease of Readings Coppice by the Dean and Canons of Windsor, to Jane Edmonds of Clapham, Surrey, widow, sole executrix of Benjamin Edmunds, for £4, no beasts or cattle to be put in but calves and colts only. Counterpart. Witnesses: John Godwin, John Perry.
• 6 March 1748.[16] Renewal of lease of Readings Coppice by the Dean and Canons of Windsor, to Jane Edmonds, widow. Counterpart. Witnesses: George North, at Merchant Taylors' Hall, London, William Bateson, his clerk.
• Report from Mr Chamber as to Sandelford [Sandleford], let to Mr Montague, Overtons and Reading Coppice to Mrs Edmonds, and Court lands in Enborne, and copyhold land in Pamber called Hop gillons.[17]

• Robin Hood, William Robehod, and or aka Robert le Fevre,[20] from Enborne in Berkshire. Hood was indicted for various things, 1261–62, took flight, outlawed, and his chattels taken without warrant by the prior of Sandleford. Easter 1262 the prior was excused a fine by the king for having confiscated Hood's chattels.

One of the Henry III rolls of Easter 1262, reads:

Rex mandavit baronibus de scaccario per breve quod perdonavit priori de Sandelford' j marcam as quam amerciatus fuit coram Gilbert de Preston' et sociis suis justicariis ultimo itinerantibus in Comitatu Berk' pro eo quod idem prior seisivit sine waranto catalla Willelmi Robehod' fugitivi, et ideo quod ipsum inde quietus esse faciant.[21]

This is an early example of the name Robin Hood being used for outlaws, presumably in imitation of the famous man of legend.

Enborne historically adhered to an unusual legal practice. The rights to copyhold land inheritance from a husband were forfeited if his widow remarried or was unchaste. However, the steward of the manor was obliged to reinstate the rights if she rode into the manor court, backwards on a black ram, whilst at the same time reciting a particular set of bizarre lines ending in a request for their restoration.[22]