I assume you know the origin of the word? ~ a plot of land typically linked to an Anglican rectory, provided with rights for the benefit of the incumbent. So it often, as communities grew, came to be a piece of lightly-utilised land in a high rent neighborhood, over which the less Christian brethren and sistren would cast covetous glances...

The word comes from Latin for clod (via OF around 1300) - interesting comparison to the root of globe:

http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=glebe