Archaeology

Ridge and Furrow, Medieval farming remains in West Derby

Ridge and Furrow formations are possibly one of the best-known archaeological features which survive into the modern day. You can see these long, sinuous raises beds of earth across Britain. They survive particularly well in Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire and Derbyshire, as well as in other counties.

The remains of this farming technique are visible in two fields in West Derby, both on Eaton Road. The Walker Playing Fields near Kiln Hey are one location, while the Bill Shankly Playing fields on the corner with Barnfield Drive is the other.

They are best viewed in low sunlight, or after a light snowfall. Occasionally a lone golfer tees off from their slopes of a late summer evening!

Ridge and furrow in Liverpool

Ridge and furrow is a form of ploughing that first appears in Britain shortly after the Romans left, and lasted well into the 17th century.

In those times, groups of animals (oxen or, later, horses) pulled a single-sided plough which turned the soil over to one side. This side never altered, which is why the ridge of soil was able to build up.

“Medieval Ridge and Furrow above Wood Stanway – geograph.org.uk – 640050” by Philip Halling.

At the same time, the furrows were useful drainage channels. Crops like wheat were kept high and dry where they would otherwise have drowned. Rainwater would then have flowed down the furrows to a ditch at the bottom of the slope; ridge and furrow always ran up and down slope rather than across.

The ridges were an elongated reverse-S shape – largely straight with slight curves where the plough and animals turned. This helped the team to line up with the next furrow.

Each of the ridges which grew up became known as a land. Lands were a measure of area and value, such as when calculating the work a ploughman had done.

Survival of ridge and furrow

Ridge and furrow lines could be built up to 6 feet in height in some places, and so they take a lot of punishment before they’re wiped from the landscape. Modern ploughing will quickly reduce the ridges to nothing. Where no ploughing has taken place since their formation, ridges can survive up to 2 or 3 feet (almost 1 metre).

The two fields we’re looking at here have remains around a foot tall in some cases. However, the ridge and furrow lies at the edges, as the fields are used for football. The sports fields themselves have been levelled.

Ridge and furrow on the Bill Shankly Playing Fields, West Derby

What this tells us about West Derby

The moderate survival of this ridge and furrow in West Derby can be taken to mean many things.

Either this land went totally out of use once the open field system was no longer in operation. Or perhaps cattle or sheep were grazed here instead. Ridge and furrow survive fairly well when grazed instead of used for crops.

It’s also a fact that parts of south Lancashire were fairly waterlogged in their natural state. The land may simply have been unsuitable for crop growing.

Perhaps the local population fell to the extent that the number of fields needed for crops went down.

Main image: Ridge and furrow remains on the Walker Playing Fields, Eaton Road, West Derby.

Ridge and furrow photograph: Medieval Ridge and Furrow above Wood Stanway – geograph.org.uk – 640050” by Philip Halling. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Commons.

5 Comments on “Ridge and Furrow, Medieval farming remains in West Derby”

  • Gerry Murphy

    says:

    I have excellent shots of the Walker field after light snow if you’re interested. Let me know.

    Reply

    • Hi Gerry,

      That would be great if you could send me one or two. I’ll put up the best one on the article if it’s ok with you, and I’ll add a credit in the caption and at the bottom of the article.

      Martin

      Reply

  • S.Taylor

    says:

    Hi
    Thank you,
    Its great to see where history and heritage has survived because so much has been lost in the North, these are insights into how our ancestors lived.
    We need these to learn from and hopefully they wont be lost.
    When did ridge and furrow end?
    Its great to know there are people who are well clued up on the local history to ask questions and to fill us in and all this.

    Reply

    • Hi Sue,

      Glad you’re finding things of interest on this site!

      Ridge and furrow was used up until different dates across the country, but the 17th century is generally when its use came to an end, along with the open field system, which was replaced over time with enclosed fields.

      Best wishes,
      Martin

      Reply

  • George Heckler

    says:

    It is interesting that farming in the Nile delta still uses this method and plants crops in both the ridge and furrow.

    Reply

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

To top