Monument record 6217 - Open Field System, Maidwell

The common fields of of the parish were enclosed privately between and 1711. Most of the ridge and furrow in the parish has been destroyed.

{1} The common fields of of the parish were enclosed privately between and 1711. Most of the ridge-and-furrow in the parish has been destroyed but some can still be traced on the ground or from air-photographs especially in the NW and NE of the parish and S of the village. Elsewhere only a few blocks remains. Much of what survives is arranged in end on furlongs, in the E of the parish mainly orientated E-W and in the N of the parish orientated N-S in response to the general topography of the area.

{2} The parish was totally ploughed apart from very limited areas of flooding meadow in medieval times. Some areas to the SW and near the village were enclosed by the 16th century. Other areas were set down to grass (leys) according to the 1686 glebe terrier, and also from the evidence of the 1883 modern field names which contain many 'leys' and 'furze' elements and lie on the parish periphery.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1981, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton (Series). SNN77381.

<2> Goldsworthy A.; et al, 1976, Maidwell Parish Survey, p. 29-31 (Newsletter). SNN19430.

Record last edited

Aug 28 2026 1:58PM