An English Heritage-supported project on historic field systems in
East Anglia, as part of the Monuments Protection Programme, has
been recently completed .Twelve case studies were examined in
Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, N.E. Hertfordshire and E. Cambridgeshire.
In each place the historic land use was analysed and categorised
according to eight 'land types' and eighteen sub-types. Of especial
significance were common fields – here sub-divided into three types
depending on the amount of communality they displayed and their
quantitative role within individual communities – and their
antithesis, ancient 'block holdings' or holdings in severalty (i.e.
farmsteads surrounded by their own group of fields). The varying
percentages of the two were calculated and common fields were shown
to be most prevalent in the north and west of the region, while
block holdings dominated in the south, with some areas showing no
evidence of ever having had common fields.
By using trend lines derived from the computer-based
Historic Landscape Characterisation mapping (recently carried
out in the region under another English Heritage project) in
conjunction with variety of other data sets, it was possible to
suggest a wider context for the case-study based conclusions. Of
particular importance was a division running diagonally across the
claylands of central Suffolk, approximately on the line of the
River Gipping. To the south of this there is gently undulating land
which had a high potential for arable farming in pre-modern times,
while to the north there is mainly flat land, with an historic
tendency towards dairy farming. It was also possible to demonstrate
a high incidence of block holdings in the southern area and,
conversely, a link with a form of common fields to the north.
But beyond these topographically explicable differences, it was
also apparent that the 'Gipping divide' was also a significant
cultural boundary. This can be seen in vernacular architecture,
both in constructional methods and in plan forms; in the
terminology used to describe greens and woods; and perhaps in
inheritance customs. The patterns seen in south Suffolk extend into
Essex and those in north Suffolk extend into Norfolk, indicating
that this was a boundary of regional importance.
Examination of the origins of the field systems suggests that
although co-axial systems do exist, they are not vast
terrain-oblivious entities and they have varying dates and
purposes. Some co-axial systems may incorporate prehistoric
elements, but others are likely to be late Saxon or early medieval.
Importantly, they are not automatic indicators of early land
allotment. The case studies suggest that locational analysis
involving soil type, drainage potential and access to water is a
more certain way of identifying the areas most likely to have been
used for early agriculture. In the northern part of the region
these 'core' arable areas tended to develop into common fields, but
in the southern zone they tended to become block demesnes, that is
large fields that were the exclusive property of manorial lords.
This divergent development probably had its genesis in the late
Saxon period and has an obvious significance for the understanding
of the origins of common fields on a wider, national, level.
It is clear that the late Saxon period witnessed very
significant advances and changes in agriculture that were to have
far-reaching consequences. The factors driving and influencing
these changes are complex but included a climatic amelioration, an
increase in population, the development or re-introduction of the
mouldboard plough and the Viking invasions. The project produced
evidence pointing towards a linkage between areas of Viking
settlement/influence and the appearance of common fields,
suggesting that the adoption of common fields may have arisen out
the social upheaval caused by the Viking interventions. Conversely,
areas that show minimal Viking influence seem to have developed
block demesnes, possibly as a continuation of farming practices
that may have their roots in the Roman period or even earlier. If
correct, this would suggest an origin for common fields in the late
ninth century.
This project is now published in East Anglian Archaeology,
volume 124, full
details and order form available here
Contact details:
Edward Martin
Archaeological Officer
Archaeological Service
Suffolk County Council
Shire Hall
Bury St Edmunds
Suffolk
IP33 2AR
Telephone: 01284 352442
Email:
edward.martin@et.suffolkcc.gov.uk