The Berkswell Society

Welcome to the Balsall Common Heritage Circular Trail

 

Medieval furrowed field 

‘Ridge and furrow’ is an archaeological pattern of ridges and troughs (‘furrows’), created by ploughing in the Middle Ages. This was typical of the ‘Open Field System’ where families managed one or more strips within a large open field. The strips allowed good and poor land to be shared out fairly. Over time, the single sided plough piled up the soil to form the ‘ridge’, with the ‘furrow’ acting as a drainage channel to protect the crop from waterlogging. The ridges and furrows are not obvious when the grass and rushes are long. They are most clearly seen in winter during early morning or late afternoon sun.
.

 

 

SEE AND VISIT
USEFUL LINKS
INFO
Connect Us
Newsletter
Back Office and Admin
Copyright © Berkswell Society. All right reserved.