Reconstructed Map for 1580 – Fields

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In 1580, farming followed a 3-year cycle. The arable land was therefore divided into three fields: Marehill Field, Middle Field and Windmill Field. This map shows the approximate location of these fields.

This is a reconstruction by Professor Chibnall originally published as Map 3 in his book “Sherington: Fiefs and Fields of a Buckinghamshire Village”. The original black and white map was drawn by Mr E W Tole. It has been digitally enhanced to remove blemishes on the paper copy and colour shading (plus the red dividing lines) has been added to improve clarity.

The three-year cycle appears to have been adopted some time in the period 1514 to 1561. Previously there had been a two field system, as shown on the 1300 map.

Chibnall's reconstructed map for 1580 - Fields

Note: the division is approximate and is only intended to give a general indication. Parts of the shaded areas were woods, cow pasture, meadows or closes, and not arable fields.

The distribution of land is given in the following tables: Open FieldsDemesne. This information is taken from Tables 49/50/51 and 47/48 of Chibnall’s book, respectively. Note that there are a number of detailed discrepancies between the information on the map and that given in the tables.

Other maps:

Complete map of Sherington in 1580.

Larger scale maps of the quadrants: North West, North East, South West, South East.