Monument record 5121 - Open Field System, Hardwick

{1} The exact date of the enclosure of the common fields of the parish is not known but it had certainly taken place by 1684 and perhaps considerably earlier, since Bridges says that in 1720 the parish had been enclosured for about 100 years. In 1587 there were three open fields, Moore, Wood and East Fields ('Campi Orientalis'). A large area of pasture known as Little and Great Neates Pasture separated these fields from Short Wood in the west which was at that time much larger.
Ridge and furrow can be traced on the ground or on air photos over most of the parish in end-on or interlocked furlongs, not only in the common fields but also in Little Neates Pasture (SP836705) and where parts of Short Wood have been cleared (eg SP828701).

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.73 site 6 (checked) (Series). SNN77380.

<2> 1684, Map of Hardwick, (unchecked) (Map). SNN530.

<3> 1587, Map of Hardwick, (unchecked) (Map). SNN47295.

<4> Salzman L.F.(ed), 1937, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.175 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100371.

Record last edited

Apr 30 2015 10:42AM