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From: [log in to unmask]
To: mining-history <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: RE: Fossilized Medieval Field Strip Systems
Dear Trevor,
In the last few years I have been researching and writing a number of parish
archaeological appraisals in the South Hams District of South Devon.
One feature of considerable interest is that the pattern you have at Combe
Martin, of discrete blocks of strips remaining with the same tenancy, often
for hundreds of years, was the norm, while scattered holdings all over the
parish, later enclosed
by mutual agreement was atypical.
A recent study of South Huish parish showed the latter arrangement, but all
four of the other studies produced to date show the former arrangement. Two
of these were of interest regarding medieval quarrying activity - Stokenham
and Charleton
parishes. The quarries were all located on land which was open and
uncultivated in the medieval period and later. No evidence of strips was
found there, although there was a little encroachment on the edges of the
quarrying areas, perhaps
C16-C17. The date range for the quarrying, which in the C18-C19 included
shaft mining methods as well as opencast pit workings, was from the early 14th
to the mid-19th centuries. Most was roofing slate, but some building stone
was also raised,
Dartmouth Castle being constructed in the 1450s from Charleton Slate.
One thing which needs bearing in mind, is that these strip field systems,
which can date as far back as the 10th century in Devon (see current
palaeoenvironmental work by the Community Landscapes Project at Exeter
University), and earlier
elsewhere, are generally enclosed piecemeal, or by unrecorded mutual
agreement, in the medieval and early post-medieval periods. There are only 3
recorded instances of Parliamentary Enclosure in Devon, showing that the
18th-19th century period of
Enclosure Acts was unneccessary - Devon and Cornwall's open field systems had
largely been enclosed already. Its thought in fact that most had occurred by
the C17 (see article by Harold Fox on Kenton Parish in TDA).
Hope this helps.
Robert
========================================
Message date : Feb 23 2005, 06:22 AM
From : "Trevor Dunkerley"
Copy to :
Subject : Re: Fossilized Medieval Field Strip Systems
Dear List,
I am currently researching an extended assignment entitled:
'An Early Metaliferous Mining Landscape Set Amongst Fossilized Medieval Field
Strip Systems - Combe Martin, North Devon: A Landscape Study'.
I am looking for suggestions of other fossilized systems throughout the
country that I could use in comparison to the system in Combe Martin, with or
without attached metaliferous mining.
In Combe Martin the field strips passed into separate tenure unconsolidated,
leaving many of the old strips fossilized just as they were, unlike the usual
situation where when the open fields ceased to be held in common, they were
consolidated into
enclosed rectangular compact holdings by mutual exchange.
I would be grateful for any pointers you could offer.
Kindest regards,
Trevor Dunkerley
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