Monument record 9980 - Open Field System, Desborough

The common fields of Desborough were enclosed by Act of Parliament of 1776. Three fields are referred to in the late 14th century and there were four by the 18th century.

{1} The common fields of Desborough were enclosed by Act of Parliament of 1776. An undated map of the late C18th shows the common fields still in existence. At that time there were four fields: How, Garborough, Little and Bestow Fields, all lying around the town, and a large area of old enclosures in the north-east of the parish.
Ridge and furrow of these fields exists on the ground or can be traced on air photographs over large areas of the parish outside the extensive ironstone quarries. It is arranged in end-on and interlocked furlongs, some of which are of strong reversed-S form, and it agrees exactly with the furlongs marked on the late C18th map of the parish.

{4} Fields were mapped by D.Hall in 1983. Pre-enclosure plan exists, dated 1726, showing furlongs. Three fields are referred to in the late C14th. In 1776 there were three major fields called Garbrooke, Howe and Bestowe, with a small field called Little Field. They were probably run on a three tilth system. A few old enclosures called The Plain lay away from the vill. Enclosed in 1776.

{12} Incomplete open-field plan; an outline furlong plan of the 18th-century gives no indication of strip orientation {9}. Furlongs almost encircle the former Harrington Wood on the west. The area north-west of Gaultney Wood (in Rushton) has no evidence of furlongs and was probably pasture or wood, consistent with it being called a 'plain'. Ridges in Eleven Acre Spinney (SP 815 816) may be of early modern date, but have a good profile, unlike late agricultural ridges. They lie parallel to hedges already there in 1726. Three fields are referred to in the 14th century; and four in the 18th. There was a large area of woodland, known as the 'Plain Closes' in the north-eastern part of the township.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.34 (unchecked) (Series). SNN77380.

<2> MOORE J.R., 1910, History of Desborough, p.15-26 (unchecked) (Book). SNN39494.

<3> 1750 (circa), Map of Desborough Parish, (unchecked) (Map). SNN105734.

<4> HALL D.N., 1995, The Open Fields of Northamptonshire, p.251 (checked) (Series). SNN56219.

<5> 1375 (circa), BL Cott. Otho B xiv f.169, (unchecked) (Document). SNN105738.

<6> 1726, Map of Desborough (NRO Map 4626), (unchecked) (Map). SNN105739.

<7> 1776, Enclosure Award NRO ZB 615, (unchecked) (Document). SNN105740.

<8> 1776, Award Map NRO 4643, (unchecked) (Map). SNN105741.

<9> 1750?, Desborough furlong plan, (unchecked) (Map). SNN102477.

<10> 1776, Pre-Inclosure Map of Desborough (Map). SNN109316.

<11> 1777, Plan of Desborough Township After Inclosure in 1777 (Map). SNN109317.

<12> Foard, G.; Hall, D. & Partida, T., 2009, Rockingham Forest: An atlas of the medieval and early-modern landscape (Book). SNN106598.

Record last edited

Sep 14 2018 9:55AM