Lindridge was a very large Manor (Estate) stretching from Knighton on Teme to Pensax.  The River Teme was the boundary in the south.  It included several smaller manors (farms) some of which were let out to tenants and others the monks farmed directly ( Home Farms.)

The monks of St, Mary€s kept records of what was grown on their lands in Lindridge, this was important as the harvest from the fields was sent back to Worcester to be sold or used directly to feed the monks.  

The monks themselves did not work on the land but they would have been a common sight in the area because they would travel up to their Eastate and Manors in Lindridge to make sure that all was going well. They may have stopped over for long periods, staying in their Manor House.

A well run manor was profitable for the lord of the manor
Freemen paid rent for their land.
Everyone on the manor paid taxes to the lord
Merchet - everytime the daughter of a villein married
Heriot - a death duty of the man€s finest beast
Tallage - a tax which could be used at the will of a lord
Everyone had to take their corn to the lord€s mill and their bread had to be cooked in the lord€s oven - a profitable business!

Law and order on the manor: Manorial Courts
Through the system of Frankpledge everyone on the manor over the age of 12 was involved in keeping law and order.  People were grouped into 10s,  each member of the group was accountable for the behaviour and work of the others.  The bailiff or his assistant the reeve was responsible for supervising this system and the efficiency of all labour services, The system had been introduced in Saxon times but was continued by the Normans.  Any problems were taken before the lord or his steward in the Manorial Court. Manor Courts continued long after the old manorial system had broken down.