Monument record 5443 - Open Field System, Moreton Pinkney

The common fields of Moreton Pinkney were finally enclosed by an Act of Parliament of 1760. However, part of the parish, an area of unknown size apparently called the West Field, was enclosed in 1624.

{1} The common fields of Moreton Pinkney were finally enclosed by an Act of Parliament of 1760. However, part of the parish, an area of unknown size apparently called the West Field, was enclosed in 1624.
Ridge and furrow of these fields exists on the ground or can be traced on aerial photos over almost the whole parish, arranged in end-on or interlocked furlongs often of reversed-S form. Several lanes that radiate from the village appear from their hollowed form and the way the adjacent ridge and furrow terminates against them to be original access-ways through the common fields. In this parish, as elsewhere in the area, the term Banky Ground is given to well-marked ridge and furrow preserved in pasture.

{4} The west field of Moreton was enclosed in 1624 following on from a demesne enclosure in 1602 (PRO C78 116 (6)). The remainder was enclosed in 1761 by Parliamentary Act (Act NRO G 1259; Inc 51 is original enclosure award (1761), for which there is no map).
The tithe map of 1848 shows the whole parish (NRO T215).

The township was mapped from D Hall’s reconstruction of the enclosure award assisted by a 1796 written survey (NRO Box V2792). Settlement mapped from tithe map.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.103 site 4 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<2> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.250 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77325.

<3> 1848, Moreton Pinkney Tithe Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN8720.

<4> Hall D.N.; Britnell T., 2000?, South Northamptonshire Historic Landscape: Part III, p.14 (unchecked) (Report). SNN103302.

Record last edited

Feb 12 2025 2:00PM