Monument record 4848/0/12 - Open Fields Project: Areas of Survival of Ridge & Furrow

{1} AP No.9. Medieval ridge and furrow, a plough headland, banks or baulks and a ditch of similar or later date are visible as earthworks, cropmarks and soilmarks on historic air photos and recent sources on the southeast side of the park. These remains are located between Drayton Road and the edge of the Survey Area. Ridge and furrow curves gently from Drayton Road to the south-eastern edge of the park, and in some places beyond. Drayton Road itself appears to run along the top of a plough headland that marked the northern end of these furlongs. Beyond the park most of the ridge and furrow is oriented south-west to north-east. Some banks or baulks follow the line of the furrows and may have divided furlongs. The ditch at SP9682 8006 may be a widened furrow cut for drainage or division purposes. This ridge and furrow appears to respect a possible hollow way (AP no. 40) but it relationship with the long banks running just beyond the park boundary (AP no. 43) is unclear. This ridge and furrow is overlain by the PALL MALL avenue (AP no. 3) and was probably truncated by quarrying (AP no. 37). Excepting these disturbances the lidar data and recent air photos indicated that this ridge and furrow is some of the best preserved in the Survey Area. But it should be noted that the ridges lying outside the park boundary have been levelled. (1- 9)
1 WWW GE2005 2005
2 CUCAP CHX 39 03-01-1979
3 EHA SP 9680/30 04-10-2000
4 EHA RAF/CPE/UK1994 4429 13-04-1947
5 CUCAP BRO 6 15-11-1974
6 EHA RAF/CPE/UK2405 4072 24-11-1947
7 EHA RAF/540/664 3003 29-01-1952
8 LIDAR SP9680
9 LIDAR SP9679

{2} Extensive areas of well-preserved ridge and furrow, for instance between the main drive and the park’s southern boundary.

<1> Deegan A., 2012, Air Photo and Lidar Mapping and Interpretation for Drayton House and Park, Northamptonshire, p.22 Appendix 5 (checked) (Report). SNN108512.

<2> English Heritage, 1984, Register of Parks & Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England (1984, Northamptonshire), (checked) (Report). SNN46781.

<3> Hall D.; Palmer R., 2001, Midland Open Fields Project: Digital Archive, (part checked) (Archive). SNN105253.

<4> Hall D.N., 2001, Turning The Plough - Midland Open Fields: Landscape Character and Proposals for Management, (unchecked) (Book). SNN101551.

Record last edited

Feb 6 2013 3:48PM