Monument record 8238/0/1 - Open Fields Project: Areas of Survival of Ridge & Furrow

Earthworks of medieval/post-medieval ridge and furrow cultivation identified on aerial photographs during the Open Fields Project.

{3} The ridge-and-furrow on and around Mill Hill (742795-742790) is also arranged in long furlongs running down the steep north-facing slopes. There is evidence of the ridge-and-furrow overlying ancient landslips and being disturbed by more recent ones. There are good headlands, a trackway and a block of, for Northamptonshire, unique Strip Lynchets. This consists of three terrace- like features some 40 m long with treads 5 to 6 m wide and risers 0.5 m high. It is the result of medieval contour strip ploughing and, although they are extremely common in Wessex, Gloucestershire, Yorkshire etc, has never been recognized before in Northamptonshire. An extremely rare survival. Ridge-and-furrow here has also been cut by hedge banks, quarries and tree pits.

<1> Hall D.; Palmer R., 2001, Midland Open Fields Project: Digital Archive, (part checked) (Archive). SNN105253.

<2> Hall D.N., 2001, Turning The Plough - Midland Open Fields: Landscape Character and Proposals for Management, (unchecked) (Book). SNN101551.

<3> Taylor C.C., 2000, Kelmarsh Estate Report, (unchecked) (Report). SNN101314.

Record last edited

Sep 30 2024 12:48PM