Monument record 6544 - Open Field System, Weston and Weedon

The common fields of Weston and Weedon were enclosed by an Act of Parliament of 1771. A map of 1593 depicts the strips and furlongs which then covered most of the parish and shows that the strips were made of varying numbers of ridges. There were extensive areas of old enclosures.

{1} The common fields of Weston and Weedon were enclosed by an Act of Parliament of 1771. No details are known of the earlier field arrangements, but a map of 1593 depicts the strips and furlongs which then covered most of the parish. The recoverable pattern of ridge-and-furrow fits the strips and furlongs shown on the map exactly and indicates that the strips themselves were made up of varying numbers of ridges. The map also shows that there were extensive areas of old enclosures, especially in the south east corner of the parish (SP 580463) and implies that the land to the north west of Weston village was also enclosed at that time. However normal common-field ridge-and-furrow exists in both places. Ridge-and-furrow of these fields exists on the ground or can be traced on air photographs over most of the old parish of Weston and Weedon and except for a small area south of Milthorpc the pattern is virtually complete. It is all arranged in end-on or interlocked furlongs; in some places there arc continuous blocks of end-on furlongs running down the gentle slopes (SP 598463—603455). Large areas still survive in permanent pasture, especially north east of Weedon on either side of the road to Plumpton. A road marked on the 1593 map as ‘The Way from Helmdon’ is still traceable as a broad open track running north west from near the south east boundary towards Moreton Pinkney.

{2} The open field system covered all the parish except the flooding meadows. There are some very fine networks of furlongs surviving. The 1593 map has been shown to be substantially accurate. There are some post medieval modifications, such as the ploughing of two furlongs into one. The peripheral areas far distant from the settlements were already enclosed by 1593 but do contain ridge and furrow.

{4} Shows the pattern of strip farming that covered the parish, which appears to match up exactly with the surviving ridge and furrow.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.167 (unchecked) (Series). SNN77382.

<2> Rowley, R.T. & Fowler, W.J. (Ed.), 1975, Surveys (The Northamptonshire Parish Survey), 5/28 (checked) (Article). SNN71205.

<3> Hall, D., 1973, Weston and Weedon Parish Survey Plan, (checked) (Plan). SNN108997.

<4> 1593, All Souls College (Oxford) Estate Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN15391.

<5> 1974, Fieldname Map (Weston and Weedon), (unchecked) (Map). SNN108795.

Record last edited

Jul 17 2024 11:51AM