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Report of the Survey Days held on 14th and 27th January, 2005.
This report by Elaine Brown first appeared in the March 2005 issue of The Parish
Magazine of Greater Whitbourne under the title "Furrowed brow.
An eager group turned up in Geoff Holborow’s field in
mid-January to be enthused and ably trained up by Richard and Clem from
Hereford Archaeological Service. By the end of the day we could
tell a strip lynchet from a ridge and furrow, a trackway from a hollow
way and were able to operate a dumpy level. While one group
measured and plotted points to produce a profile of a lynchet, the
others left no bump or dip un-scrutinised in the search for interesting
features, aided by the low winter sunshine, which accentuated any
changes in level. Everything was recorded, including GPS location
and compass direction. Events were captured on video, including
all the cold-induced sniffing!
The second survey day, walking with Richard, started in Rick
Freeman’s fields off Boat Lane. In two fields, virtually
untouched for 50-100 years, ancient features showed up well –
particularly valuable on such a dull day. This area of former
glebe land had several lynchets with ridge & furrows between
them. Some were curved at the end, implying they might be
mediaeval, formed by the large turning circle of oxen &
plough. One dramatic lynchet was at least 2m high and nearby we
saw some woodland banks. A lot of the latter might indicate that
the whole hill was used for arable crops at a time of high population
pressure (pre 1400AD). Near to a building platform at the edge of
the field, Marion found a very nice clay pipe.
After lunch we followed an impressive hollow way running
through Cynthia Waterman’s cherry orchard. This probably served
as a major access to several fields in mediaeval times. We found
ridge and furrows, an ancient trackway, a building platform &
entrance and some 18th century pottery fragments, courtesy of the
moles. In Andy & Kim Cunningham’s field we were spoiled with 15
very clean narrow ridges to measure, although the plunge downslope
suggests they may have been hop rows.
Moving on, we traced a possible old route for the stream in
the Glebe Field of Angus & Gillie Stormonth Darling. Andrew’s
discovery of an unusual yellow clay pipe in a molehill had everyone
kicking soil around in pursuit of finds, but Richard soon had us
marching up the road in search of a hollow way. Again Rick’s field
produced more questions than answers..had an ancient leat become a
trackway leading to the road…when was the leat cut by a lynchet
(boundary to Whitbourne Court estate)…was the gully once a watercourse,
which evolved into a route uphill for heavy carts…?
Both survey days were really enjoyable and so thank you very much to
all the owners for allowing access to their fields and to Richard &
Clem for sharing their expertise with us.
GLOSSARY of TERMS:
- Strip lynchet – a boundary between strips of land under
different ownership. The earth level drops on the downslope side
due to erosion, while building up above it.
- Ridge & furrow – shape of the earth formed by a
plough within a strip of farmed land. It looks like a bump with a
dip on either side and often runs diagonally across a field which is
easier for oxen, gives better drainage and causes less erosion.
Wider R&F’s indicate oxen; narrower and less pronounced ones are
due to horse drawn ploughs and are later in history.
- Glebe – Portion of church land providing revenue
- Leat – Open watercourse carrying water to a mill
Elaine Brown
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