Monument record 8238/0/2 - Open Fields Project: Areas of Survival of Ridge & Furrow

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

{3} Along the western parish boundary the ridge-and-furrow is very well preserved within three of the four fields between Hill Top Farm and the A 14 (718800-715792). The fields were probably enclosed in the 16th century and thus the ridge-and-furrow has not been ploughed since then. As is usual it is very regular in width and height and consistently lies across the contours to assist drainage. The only exception is a small block of lynchetted rig. This 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. There are well marked headlands up to 10 m wide indicating ploughing by ox teams, ‘humps’ on the ends of the ridges where the ploughshares were cleaned, drainage channels and a contemporary trackway.

<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, p.28 (unchecked) (Report). SNN101314.

Record last edited

Sep 4 2024 4:07PM