Medieval to post-medieval ridge and furrow at Hatfield Forest (EHER 14142)

Medieval or later ridge and furrow and an associated field boundary recorded during an earthwork survey carried out in 1993.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: 1993. Survey. In April 1993, RCHME's Cambridge Office carried out an analytical earthwork survey of a part of Hatfield Forest in the vicinity of the post-medieval warren, following a request from the National Trust. At least five strips of medieval or post-medieval ridge and furrow cultivation, oriented north-west to south-east. The ridges are broad, up to 10m wide, and extend for up to 40m in length. A possible field boundary was located further to the north in the clearing at TL 535199. This was a low bank 0.4m high, running ESE to WNW for about 80m, with slight traces of a ditch on its southern side. At its west end the bank abuts the woodbank of Round Coppice and is covered in thick vegetation. Hatfield Forest is considered to be of supreme interest as 'all the elements of a medieval forest survive' <1>. Physical remains of arable cultivation have not previously been recognised within the forest. The presence of ridge and furrow might suggest that some 'assarting' or clearance for cultivation did take place although there is little documentary evidence. Rackham identifies a croft enclosed by the Prior of Thremhall in 1305 <2> as the area known as 'Yemerlinoke' covering 14 acres in the north-west of Hatfield Forest <3>. The Calendar of Close Rolls of 1242 refers to an 'order to Richard de Muntfichet to guard the forests of Writtle and Hatfield as before, and not to let Ysabel de Bruys destroy or assart the wood' to preserve the deer within the forest <4>. For further details, see RCHME Level 3 client report and plan at 1:1000 scale, held in Archive. <5> See also: <6> <7>