Monument record 6942/0/2 - Open Fields Project: Areas of Survival of Ridge & Furrow

Earthwork (Aerial Photography)

{3} A more unusual feature not noted elsewhere is visible in the south of the parish between Sp683594 and SP687595.) Two normal rectangular furlongs with ridges running down the slope towards the river each have three curved ridges at their couth end lying parallel to the river.

{4} Ridge and furrow earthworks, the legible remains of the medieval/post-medieval open field system of agriculture, remained upstanding within the eastern part of the development area. The earthworks are, for the most part, aligned north-west by south-east, although there are two areas in the north-centre and south-east corner which are aligned north-east by south-west.
Two trenches produced evidence for the headland which built up to the south of the site near the river. The headland material in one of the trenches comprised dark yellow-brown clay loam with rare ironstone, flint and pebbles; while in the other it comprised light orange-brown clay sand.

<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> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.74 site 8 (unchecked) (Series). SNN77382.

<4> Finn, C. And Muldowney, M., 2015, Archaeological evaluation at Midway J16, Northamptonshire June to August 2015, p.37 (Report). SNN110359.

Record last edited

Jul 13 2016 1:19PM