Monument record 8291 - Open Field System, Watford

Part of the common fields of the parish (mainly the area to the south of village) were enclosed by Act of Parliament in 1771, but the greater part was already in old enclosures by this date. Some of this was apparently carried out in 1644.

{1} Part of the common fields of Watford were enclosed by Act of Parliament of 1771, but this involved less than half of the parish, the area mainly south of the village. The greater part of the parish was already in old enclosures at this time, some of which are shown on a map of 1780. According to John Bridges this enclosure was carried out by Sir George Clerke in 1644. The part of the parish lying west of Watling Street was also enclosed by 1764. Ridge and furrow of the common fields survives on the ground or can be traced from air photographs throughout most of the parish and is arranged in end-on and interlocked furlongs. Much of it is strikingly well-preserved, particularly round the village where it exhibits some unusual features.

{2} Priority List A: Extensive Areas of Field Systems. Watford (SP6068 & SP6069). Several furlongs with headlands and joints, some of it in parkland. The profiles vary; some was demesne enclosed in 1595, more enclosure in 1631 and at the east there was Parliamentary enclosure in 1771. All three are represented in the sample. The late ridges show the heads of foreshortened lands (published in Dyer et al 1989, where there is also a historical and geographic analysis). Included are the shrunken remains of Watford vill. The documentation is good, with medieval charters, terriers, a detailed survey of 1277 and later estate records that include some details of the various enclosures. Enclosure as above, 65ha.

{3} SMR note 02/03/2010: the rapid survey of the Midlands Open Fields in the 1990s assesses the township as having only 10% survival of ridge and furrow by this time, which falls short of the national priority list by about 5%.

{5} Watford is a small shrunken settlement retaining many trees in parkland of the manor house, Watford Court, which was demolished c.1972. There is still much grassland with steep ridge and furrow earthworks.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1981, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.193 Site 6 + Plate 21 (checked) (Series). SNN77381.

<2> HALL D.N., 1993, The Open Fields of Northamptonshire : The Case for the Preservation of Ridge and Furrow, p.34 (checked) (Report). SNN70145.

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

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

<5> HALL D.N., 1989, The Rural Settlements of Medieval England: Field Systems and Township Structure, (unchecked) (Report). SNN106634.

<6> Collingridge J., 1771, Watford New Inclosures Belonging to William Cartwright (Map 3158b), (unchecked) (Map). SNN42160.

<7> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.585 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77325.

<8> 1764, Map of Watford, (unchecked) (Map). SNN15055.

<9> Hollowell S., 1999, Northamptonshire Inclosure: The Commissioners and Other Officials, p.45 (unchecked) (Article). SNN102530.

Record last edited

Jul 24 2024 12:17PM