Monument record MBC45135 - Ridge and furrow field systems in the parish of Leckhampstead

Ridge and furrow field systems of medieval and post medieval date are visible on historic aerial photographs and remote sensing data as extant earthworks, levelled earthworks and cropmarks and were mapped as part of the North Buckinghamshire Aerial Investigation and Mapping project (EBC18304). Located within the parish of Leckhampstead and centred at SP 72920 37737. The remaining earthworks are close to farms and settlements: Hydelane Farm, Lower Farmhouse (formerly Middle End Farm) at South End, Limes End, Church End and Lodge Farm. The settlement in this parish was found to be the most dispersed in the Whittlewood Project. Modern land use has increased arable coverage and this, with field amalgamation, has levelled large areas of earthworks; an equestrian establishment at South End also appears to have affect the remaining earthworks south of the road. Lynchets were also recorded within this parish which has not been common in the project area. In the north of the parish, closer to the southern extent of Whittlewood Forest, there is more woodland and less evidence of ridge and furrow field systems. Cropmarks of prehistoric sites have been recorded closer to the River Great Ouse, where these sites are visible elsewhere along the river, where ridge and furrow ploughed away or not clear before the 1940s aerial photographs (see MBC7272 and MBC22623). Plough headlands and drainage ditches around and across areas of ridge and furrow have also been mapped. (1-37)