Monument record 6048 - Open Field System, Easton Neston

Medieval open field system associated with the Easton Neston deserted Medieval settlement and the shrunken village of Hulcote. Part of the field system was surveyed by RCHME field staff. The date of enclosure is not known, nor whether each had a separate field system. Some small-scale enclosure is recorded at Easton Neston in the 16th century and the existence of Easton Neston Park indicates that the south part of the parish had been enclosed by the 18th century.

{6} Re-assessment of earthwork survival within the priority townships.

{7, 8} (SP 700492). In March 1994, RCHME's Cambridge Office carried out an analytical earthwork survey of a considerable area of ridge and furrow cultivation associated with the deserted village of Easton Neston [SP 74 NW 1] and the shrunken village of Hulcote [SP 75 SW 21]. The field system is regarded as one of the most significant areas of unspoilt medieval field system in the country, and the survey of a small sample area, at the request of Northamptonshire Heritage. The area surveyed by RCHME (SP 692491 to 697501) comprises 27 hectares of pasture north of the River Tove. The survey revealed evidence of changes in the field system, including both the division and merging of individual furlongs over time. The date of the enclosure of the surveyed fields is not known, though they were clearly enclosed by 1806. It is possible that the field may have been under pasture since the creation of Easton Neston Park in 1498. [SP 64 NE 54].

For further details, see RCHME Level 3 client report and plan at 1:1000 scale, held in archive.

{9} The parish contains the separate vills of Easton Neston and Hulcote; there may have been two townships, one for each vill. Records sometimes refer to just one village. Later in the 15th century records tend to refer to the 'fields of Easton Neston and Hulcote'. Reference to both may suggest that there was one system for the whole parish. There were 2 fields in a holding divided between the North and East Fields as 3.5 acres and 4 acres in 1341. Another charter of the same date had 2 acres exactly divided between the same fields. There were 3 fields at Hulcote in 1425.
Enclosed in 1499 when it was emparked.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.46-7 (unchecked) (Series). SNN77382.

<2> Woodfield P., 1992, Towcester Retail Development: Historic Landscape Assessment, (checked) (Full Report). SNN46827.

<3> Kidd S., 1993, Towcester Retail Development, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Planning Assessment, p.15 (checked) (Report). SNN40438.

<4> Hall D., 2001, The Woodland Landscapes of Southern Northamptonshire, p.33-46 (unchecked) (Article). SNN102520.

<5> Catchpole, T. & Priest, R., 2012, Turning the Plough Update Assessment 2012, (unchecked) (Report). SNN108491.

<6> Hall D.; Chadwick P., 2013, Assessment of Midland Ridge and Furrow: Rugby Sustainable Urban Extension, Warwickshire, (part checked) (Report). SNN109403.

<7> Kenney, J, Oswald, A, 1994, Medieval field system at Easton Neston (SP 692491 to SP 697501) (Article). SNN112179.

<8> Kenney J.; Oswald A., 1994, RCHME: Easton Neston Survey (Report). SNN114416.

<9> HALL D.N., 1995, The Open Fields of Northamptonshire, p. 259 (Series). SNN56219.

Record last edited

Sep 4 2026 3:11PM