Monument record 9237 - Open Field System, Finedon

Blocks of ridge and furrow are visible as earthworks, in the southern end of the parish of Finedon, on aerial photographs. Most of the blocks are now all levelled but there are some remaining ridge and furrow is still visible.

{1} The common fields of Finedon were enclosed by Act of Parliament of 1805. Immediately prior to this date there were twelve named fields, Sallow Side, North East, South East, Town Side, Upper, West, South Hill, Calwell Hill, Rywborough Hill, Neasdale, Wells Hill and North Side Fields. The whole parish appears to have been under cultivation at the time of enclosure, with the exception of the meadows along the Rive Ise in the west and a small area of Old Enclosures round Westfield Lodge (SP902 725). Ridge and furrow can be traced on the ground or from air photos over part of these fields. It has survived best in the fields north, east and south east of Finedon village where it is in interlocked and endon furlongs, some of revered-S form (eg SP925 734 and 935 724).

{3-4} Blocks of ridge and furrow are visible as earthworks, in the southern end of the parish of Finedon, on aerial photographs and were mapped as part of the Bedford Borough NMP project. Most of the blocks are now all levelled and some remaining ridge and furrow is visible at SP 90912 69933 and SP 90911 6960.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.170 (checked) (Series). SNN77380.

<2> 1807, Finedon Enclosure Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN108751.

<3> Vertical Aerial Photograph, RAF/CPE/UK/1925 RS 4246-4248 16-JAN-1947 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN112695.

<4> Environment Agency, LIDAR Composite DTM - 1m, LIDAR SP9069 Environment Agency 1M DTM 01 Oct 2014 - 31 May 2017 (Digital Plots). SNN111710.

<5> Bedford Borough Council HER, Undated, Bedford Borough NMP, MD003015 (Archive). SNN113023.

Record last edited

Feb 17 2025 7:19PM