I spent part of yesterday slithering around our rain-soaked woods looking for ancient field boundaries, now swallowed up by scrub and tree growth. Why? You may well ask! The rewards were a twisted ankle, a wet backside where I slipped down a steep slope, two indescribably filthy but happy dogs and a quiet sense of satisfaction when I slotted another piece into the visual jigsaw of this farm.

People have farmed this site for over a thousand years. We have records of it from before the time of the Norman Conquest. When I lean over a field gate and watch my animals I am conscious of the long queue of men and women standing at my shoulder doing the same. You cannot live here and not be aware of the history and being aware, take it into account when making decisions about the future. 15 generations have struggled with this land before us and we can, if we use our eyes, learn so much from the way that they did it.  They key to that is establishing what they did and where, so field boundaries are essential aids.

Winter is the best time to look when the bare bones of features are exposed. Devon fields were bounded by banks of stone and earth and hedges planted on top. They still are and your eye quickly tunes in to the remains of the old ones when you know what they look like today. The picture is dark but if you look to the left of the dog’s tail you will see a long raised bank running away from you. This is the remains of a hedge which dates from Medieval times.

 Ancient hedge bank

The Tithe Map of 1841 ( see http://www.devon.gov.uk/tithe_records for a good description of what Tithes were) shows this area as rough grazing belonging to Pitt, another farm which then farmed part of our land. The cottage for it is also in the woods. A dismal collection of a few old stones now, bulldozed and robbed out by the previous owner of this farm to sell as hardcore.  Even without tree cover this area would have been wet and poor. It’s difficult to imagine anything thriving here in the winter. Survival was the name of the game – biding time and waiting for Spring.  It’s no wonder that Christmas, Plough Monday and the other winter Festivals were taken so seriously. Each marked the passing of yet more days and brought you closer to good weather and more food. Food for thought for me too as I returned to my warm house, dry clothes and well-earned cup of tea!

For more info on Devon hedges see: http://www.devon.gov.uk/index/environment/natural_environment/biodiversity/devon_hedges.htm 

or:

http://www.witheridge-historical-archive.com/devonbanks.htm  a website run  by and about the neighbouring village