Monument record 8339 - Open Field System, Foscote

The date of enclosure of Foscote is unknown, but appears to have been enclosed before 1634.

{1} The date of the enclosure of the common fields of Foscote is unknown, though 80 acres of land were enclosed in 1488. Ridge and furrow exists on the ground or can be traced on aerial photos over much of the land attributable to Foscote, particularly in pasture around the site of the village. It is arrangd in normal end-on and interlocked furlongs.

{3} In 1489 John Ashby converted 80 acres to pasture in Foscote in fields known as Dyggedfeld, Lee and Gretefield. This conflicts with later references to Foscote being open field. Foscote appears to be fully open in 1610, but was enclosed before 1634.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.4 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<2> Allison K.J.; Beresford M.W.; Hurst J.G. et al, 1966, The Deserted Villages of Northamptonshire, p.4 (unchecked) (Report). SNN39628.

<3> Hall, D and Franklin, W (eds), 2024, The Enclosure of Northamptonshire 1485-1901, p. 157 (Book). SNN116630.

Record last edited

Jan 31 2025 10:12AM