More information : (Centred SX 742745) An extensive system of parallel
reaves running on a south east - north west axis can be seen
near Rippon tor and the surrounding adjacent area. North of the
River Ashburn the fields around Halsanger, Mountsland and
Horridge are clearly based on the alignment continued on the
moor above, and the reaves are easily traced on Buckland,
Halsanger, Mountsland and Horridge Commons and, to a lesser
degree, on Bagtor Down. The prehistoric settlement at the lower
end of Horridge common (SX 77 SE1) is included in the system,
the side walls of the little fields being aligned with the
general trend of direction. The early 19th century walls
enclosing the Common are evidently built on top of old reaves.
Basically the reaves must represent a form of landholding
division rather than field boundaries and because of their
obvious relationship are contemporary with or even earlier than
the Late Bronze-Early Iron Age settlements with `Celtic` fields.
the area between Wittaburrow (SX 733 753) and Buckland Common
(SX 73 73) seems to be of slightly different character from the
rest, having very few reaves lying close together and there
being more continuous cross-banks nearly at right angles making
an altogether more geometric grid pattern. (1-2)
|