Monument record 9994 - Open Field System, Braybrooke

{4} The common fields of the parish certainly existed in 1207 when a document mentions three open fields. In the early 14th century Sir Thomas de Latimer, after an exchange of lands, made ‘a great enclosure on the south side of a certain old enclosure . . .‘ It is not known whether this involved arable land and it is possible that it was in fact the group of fields on the Arthingworth boundary south of the village (SP 767830) known as Mill Closes in 1849, which have traces of ridge-and-furrow in them. Certainly in 1329-30 three open fields were still in existence. In 1649 two of the three fields, then known as Loteland and Blackfield, were enclosed by agreement. These appear to have occupied most of the east half of the parish, for a crude map of c.1778 shows the then existing open field furlongs covering only the west part of the parish. This area was finally enclosed in 1778.
Ridge-and-furrow of these fields exists on the ground or can be traced from air photographs over much of the parish, arranged in end-on and interlocked furlongs. A large area still survives in good condition north east of the village, immediately north of the settlement remains. The ridge-and-furrow in the west of the parish appears to agree with the furlongs shown on the 1778 map. There is also ridge-and-furrow within the closes of the abandoned settlement remains, indicating subsequent ploughing of the area.

<1> 1778, Map of Braybrooke, (unchecked) (Map). SNN109253.

<2> 1849, Braybrooke Tithe Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN109252.

<3> PALEY BAILDON W., 1923, Braybrooke, Its Castle, Manor and Lords, (unchecked) (Book). SNN56956.

<4> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.12 site 3 (checked) (Series). SNN77380.

<5> FOARD G.R., 1994, Braybrooke Medieval Village, (unchecked) (Notes). SNN1419.

<6> Hollowell S., 1999, Northamptonshire Inclosure: The Commissioners and Other Officials, p.45+49 (unchecked) (Article). SNN102530.

Record last edited

Mar 27 2014 5:07PM