abergraviso

Abergraviso is a historical term that refers to a specific type of land tenure and agricultural practice prevalent in certain regions of the United Kingdom, particularly Wales and parts of England, historically. The term itself is Welsh in origin, deriving from "aber" (mouth of a river) and "graiso" (likely related to gleaning or gathering). It denoted a system where tenants, typically cottagers or smallholders, had the right to glean the fields of their lord after the main harvest. This gleaning allowed them to collect any remaining grain or produce that had been missed by the reapers.

This practice served a dual purpose. For the tenant, it provided a valuable supplement to their own meager subsistence, offering a crucial source of food or fodder for their livestock during lean periods. For the lord of the manor, it was a traditional right that maintained a degree of social order and provided a safety net for the poorer members of the community, thereby potentially reducing instances of vagrancy or unrest. The specific rules and extent of abergraviso could vary significantly from manor to manor, often being defined by local custom and tradition rather than formal written law. Its importance declined with the agricultural revolution and changes in land ownership and farming practices.