Monument record 9817 - Open Field System, Cransley

{1} The date of the enclosure of the common fields in unknown. On the fine map of 1598 of part of the parish it is not very clear what the position was at that date, but it appears that at least part of the parish was then enclosed. Certainly a Great North and a Great South Field are depicted as occupying the north east part of the parish, but no indication is given as to whether there were still open strips. Ridge and furrow of these fields and others exists on the ground or is visible on air photos over much of the parish. None can be traced in the area of the Great North Field of 1598 but in the former Great South Field a number of furlongs are visible, along the north side of a small valley (SP840772-849779), laid out with the ridges at right angles to the stream. In the south west of the parish on the higher, flatter ground are areas of ridge and furrow arranged mainly in end-on furlongs with a general north west - south east trend across the contours. This area is not shown on the 1598 map. Around the village is more ridge and furrow, a large amount of which was in old enclosures in 1598, within existing field boundaries. Much of it appears to have been once part of the common fields. That in the field known as Boyle Close in 1598, north east of the village (SP830770), shows evidence of an older headland overploughed by later ridge and furrow. Immediately to the south, within the area of the settlement remains, further ridge and furrow overlies the abandoned closes there.

{2} Cransley had at least two open fields in the C13th, The East Field and the West Field. There may have been a transition to three fields by the C16th. Ralph Treswell's map of 1598 marks the Great North and Great South fields. Cransley had been enclosed by 1720, but enclosure was well under way by the time of the 1598 map.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.29,32 site 11 (checked) (Series). SNN77380.

<2> Slatcher D., 1999, A Desk-Based Archaeological Assessment On The Line Of The Requisitioned Sewer At Mawsley New Village, Cransley, Northamptonshire, p.7 (checked) (Report). SNN100008.

<3> Treswell R., 1598, Cransley Parish Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN103920.

<4> Richmond A., 2012, Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment: Land at Cransley Hill, Broughton, Northamptonshire, 2012, p.27-8 (checked) (Report). SNN108550.

Record last edited

Apr 1 2015 5:48PM