Monument record MLI81173 - Medieval Ridge and Furrow Field System, Helpringham

Summary

Medieval ridge and furrow field system surrounding Helpringham village.

Type and Period (4)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Full Description

Earthworks of east to west and north to south aligned medieval ridge and furrow were observed during a site visit in October 2000. {1} The ridge and furrow is reported as still present in January 2004. {2} Ridge and furrow is visible in these fields on aerial photographs. {3} Ridge and furrow in the fields around George Street was described in 1967 as having been unploughed since enclosure. {4} In March 2014 the site was visited and was under plough. There was no sign of ridge and furrow. {5} Three ditches and a post hole, partially overlain by the ridge and furrow, were recorded in 2002, during a watching brief on land at Orchard Close, Helpringham (PRN 61399a - TF 1373 4051). The ditches appeared to function as drainage ditches, and were likely associated with early medieval attempts to enclose and drain the agricultural land. A sherd of 13th to 15th century Toynton All Saints ware pottery and a sheep sized mandible were recovered from the ditch fills. A sherd of 8th to 9th century Saxon pottery was also recovered from a furrow fill, and whilst this was thought to be redeposited, it does indicate settlement activity of this date nearby. {6}{7} Traces of medieval ridge and furrow were identified in March 2014, during a magnetometry survey conducted on land off George Street, Helpringham (PRN 61399b - TF 1390 4024). The survey recorded the ridge and furrow as faint, linear magnetic anomalies, aligned on a roughly east to west axis. {8}{9}

Sources/Archives (9)

  •  Report: Archaeological Project Services. 2000. Desk-Based Assessment of Land off Orchard Close, Helpringham. APS site code: HOC00.
  •  Correspondence: Sallis. 2004. Letter about ridge and furrow. Helpringham. Correspondence file 2004.
  •  Aerial Photograph: HARTLEY, R.F.R.. 1980-92. LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL. 3310/14.
  •  Index: Lincolnshire County Council. Sites and Monuments Record Card Index. TF 14 SW: F.
  •  Verbal Communication: Jenny Young. 2014. Information from Jenny Young of Heritage Lincolnshire. 03/03/2014.
  •  Report: Archaeological Project Services. 2002. Land at Orchard Close, Helpringham. APS site code: HOC 01.
  •  Archive: Archaeological Project Services. 2002. Land at Orchard Close, Helpringham. LCNCC 2001.196.
  •  Report: Archaeological Project Services. 2014. Land off George Street, Helpringham. APS site code: HEGS14.
  •  Archive: Archaeological Project Services. 2014. Land off George Street, Helpringham. LCNCC 2014.57.

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Location

Grid reference Centred TF 1368 4058 (777m by 891m) (5 map features)
Civil Parish HELPRINGHAM, NORTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

Related Events/Activities (5)

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Record last edited

Mar 21 2021 8:35PM

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