Greenleys is an Anglo-Saxon word for ‘field’ or ‘land under grass or pasture’.
In Medieval times a large field situated to the south of Wolverton and the south-west of the new A5 road was called Greenlefurlong. By 1742 this had changed to Great Greenleys.
The names of the Crofts and Closes of Greenleys is based on the theme of manorial occupations.
A Croft was a small Close associated with cottages. It was also an area set aside in the common fields for growing a particular crop.
| AKERMAN CLOSE | An Akerman was a farmer. |
| ARDWELL LANE | This was a local field name. |
| BARKERS CROFT | A Barker was a term for a shepherd. |
| BEEWARD CLOSE | A Beeman is Old English for beekeeper. A Ward is Old English for guard or watchman. A Beeward therefore guarded a group of beehives. Beehives were common in the Medieval Ages as the bees were kept for their honey and their wax. In the absence of sugar, honey was used as a sweetener and in the making of mead. Wax from the honeycombs was used to make candles. The street name was adopted on 26th April 1983. |
| BOUNDS CROFT | The word Bounds originates from the Old English word ‘bond’ meaning husbandman, peasant or serf. |
| BUCKMAN CLOSE | A Buckman was a goat-herder. |
| CALVARDS CROFT | A Calvard was a calf-herder. |
| CATCHPOLE CLOSE | The Catchpole was the Sheriff’s Officer. The street name was approved on 7th September 1983. |
| COTMAN CLOSE | A Cotman was a cottager. |
| DROVERS CROFT | A Drover was a herdsman. |
| FIELD LANE | This lane leads to a sports field. |
| FRANKLINS CROFT | A Franklin was a freeman or gentleman. This was a rank below nobility but associated with knights, esquires and sergeants-at-law. An exaA Gleeman was a minstrel. The street name was adopted on 26th April 1983.mple is Chaucer’s Pilgrim in 'The Canterbury Tales’ |
| FREEMAN CLOSE | A Freeman was a free-born man as opposed to being a serf or villein in the Anglo-Saxon and Norman times. A serf / villein was not free from the lord of the manor and was compelled to work for him. |
| GLEEMAN CLOSE | A Gleeman was a minstrel. The street name was adopted on 26th April 1983. |
| GODDARDS CROFT | A Goddard was a drover, looking after animals. |
| GREENLEYS LANE | See Introduction |
| HARVESTER CLOSE | The Harvester was a crop gatherer. The street name was approved on 27th October 1982 |
| HAYWARDS CROFT | A Hayward was an officer appointed by the manor, township or parish to supervise the upkeep of fences and enclosures. Sometimes he supervised the pasturing of stock on the commons. |
| HERDMAN CLOSE | Herdman originates from the Old English word ‘herd’ and was a cow-herder |
| HORNERS CROFT | A Horner made objects such as combs, spoons and pieces of window ‘glass’ out of horn. The name later became associated with a maker or blower of musical horn |