Monument record 40 - Open Field System, Hellidon

{1} The common fields of the parish were enclosed by an Act of Parliament of 1774. Immediately before that date there were five large open fields surrounding the village. To the west lay Hill Field, to the north west Lower Field and Further Field, to the north east Upper Field, and to the south and south east Attle Field. On an earlier map of 1726 Hill Field is called Middle Field and Attle Field is Short Attle Field. Ridge and furrow of these fields exists on the ground or can be traced on air photos over much of the parish although it is markedly absent on the very steep slopes within and to the south of the village, for instance on Little Down Hill (SP521578). Elsewhere it is mainly arranged in rectangular interlocked furlongs, often of reversed S-form. On the higher flat ground the furlongs run to the edges of the steep-sided valleys cut into the hillsides and rarely extend down the slopes.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1981, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.103 site 2 (checked) (Series). SNN77381.

<2> 1775 (circa), Hellidon Enclosure Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN10210.

<3> 1726, Map of Hellidon, (unchecked) (Map). SNN108650.

<4> Hollowell S., 1999, Northamptonshire Inclosure: The Commissioners and Other Officials, p.45 (unchecked) (Article). SNN102530.

Record last edited

Sep 20 2024 2:34PM