Newington Butts? I vaguely recollect that a ' Butts ' is where archers practised before heading off to war.
That's the one Nines. I was actually told about this by none other than Paddy Ashdown who lives just down the road in Kennington. Here's one of several royal decrees from the 15th & 16th centuries, this is one by Henry VIII: Item: Whether the Kinges subjectes, not lame nor having no lawfull impediment, and beinge within the age of XI yeares, excepte Spiritual men, Justices etc. and Barons of the Exchequer, use shoting on longe bowes, and have bowe continually in his house, to use himself and that fathers and governours of chyldren teache them to shote, and that bowes and arrowes be bought for chyldren under XVII and above VII yere, by him that has such a chylde in his house, and the Maister maye stoppe it againe of his wages, and after that age he to provideb them himselfe: and who that is founde in defaute, in not having bowes and arrowes by the space of a moneth, to forfayte xiid.. And boyers for everie bowe of ewe, to make two of Elme wiche or othere wood of meane price, and if thei be founde to doe the contrarie, to be committed to warde, by the space of viii daies or more. And that buttes be made, in everie citie, towne and place accordinge to the law of auncient time used, and the inhabitantes and dwellers in everye of them to exercise themselfe with longe bowes in shotinge at the same, and elles wher on holy daies and other times conveniente. And that al bowstaves of ewe, be open and not solde in bundels nor close. And that no stranger not being denizen, shall convey oute of the kinges obeilance (?) anie bowes, arrowes, or shaftes without the kinges speciall license upon paine of forfaiture, and also imprysonment nor use shotynge in anie longe bowe without the kinges license, uppon paine to forfaite the bowes and arrowes to the kinges subjectes that will Seaze them. The Statute thereof is ANNO 6. H8. Cap:2. Over to ewe Nines...
Very interesting - explains the road simply called The Butts in Warwick just inside the old town walls, and perhaps the rugby team my son's lot played against last weekend - Barker's Butts, in Meriden near Solihull.
Oldham FC - Boundary Park Good one - took 15 mins of research - if you had not indicated the division, I would have been stumped. In this same vein, I'm going to pick another stadium out in a bit.
