Boundaries—particularly field boundaries—are among the oldest features in an English rural landscape.[1] Although a boundary itself is an abstract concept, the boundary can often be seen by differences in land use on either side.
Boundaries - a real or imagined line that marks the limit of something. Many field boundaries in the central region of England originated with the enclosure of the previous open fields in the 18th or 19th century. In a few instances, current field boundaries (particularly in the West Country) have been shown to have originated in the Bronze Age or Iron Age. With a few exceptions, however, the attempt to establish pre-Saxon boundaries has been "largely fruitless".[2] Areas that were never formally enclosed might yet prove a more fruitful area of research.
Hedgerow dating
The presence of bluebells in a hedge is often an indicator of an early hedge.[3] It has been proposed that boundary hedges can be dated by hedgerow dating. This involves counting the number of species in a 27-metre section of hedge. In its simplest form each separate species suggests an age of 100 years. A variety of additional complexities have been suggested, but results have been mixed and the technique remains controversial.
Parish boundaries
Parish boundaries are of particular interest to landscape historians, since they are often inherited from land holdings that date back to the middle Saxon period or earlier. The coincidence of another landscape feature with a parish boundary can be used to date that feature—for example in the Time Team episode screened on 11 March 2007, a mill leat was determined to pre-date the Norman conquest because it coincided with a parish boundary.
The boundaries of a few Anglo-Saxon estates were described in the boundary clauses of Anglo-Saxon Charters. These boundary clauses can sometimes be used to characterise the landscape at the time. In some cases, it has been possible to show that the boundaries of these Anglo-Saxon estates correspond to the boundaries of the subsequent parish.
Parish boundaries are shown on the old "1 inch" Ordnance Survey maps, although these are the boundaries of the civil parish which may be different. Parish boundaries are not shown on the modern "Landranger" maps. Tithe maps, from the early 19th century, usually show the parish boundary at the time they were drawn.
A long tradition exists in England of 'Beating the Bounds', either an annual or seven-yearly event,[4] wherein parishioners would walk the bounds of the parish. The event was deliberately organised to make it as memorable as possible, and to hand-down an intergenerational memory of the precise boundaries. For civil parishes, the ceremony may have begun with the Poor Law Act of 1601, or much older for the 'Processioning' of churches, dating from Anglo-Saxon times.[5] Older parishioners, and local officials, would walk the route as accurately as possible, pointing out all the various landmarks and boundary markers along the way, both natural and deliberate artefacts. A distinctive feature of these perambulations was the performance of peculiar rituals with the youngest walkers, in order to make particular points memorable. These could include being passed through the window of a local pub, rather than walking through the door, being carried across a stream, or being hung upside down by the ankles and their head 'bumped' on the grass.
Such processions fell from practice in the Modernism of the mid-20th century,[6] but there was some interest in their revival from the 1960s.[7] Several were re-enacted after a break of as many as 21 years.[8]
March dyke
The old march dyke between the baronies of Eglinton and Stone in North Ayrshire.
In Scotland a march dyke is the boundary between farms or previously baronies.
Deer park boundaries
The boundaries of medieval deer parks are often marked by pronounced earthworks[9] and for early parks, they can coincide with parish boundaries.
Former boundaries
Boundaries that have fallen out of use, may still be traceable by using geophysics or as a result of earthworks (lumps and bumps) or cropmarks. Cropmarks and earthworks are often visible in aerial photographs. Earthworks are more easily seen on photographs taken when the sun is low in the sky and as a result, shadows are more pronounced. They can also become more easily seen when the ground has a slight dusting of snow.
^Hooke, Della (1998). The landscape of Anglo-Saxon England. Leicester University Press. p. 63.
^(PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-04-01.
^Oliver, Paul (2004). "'Beating the Bounds': Switching Boundaries over Five Millennia". Traditional Dwellings and Settlements Review. 15 (2): 7–17. JSTOR 41758040.
^Tratman, W. S. (1931). "Beating the Bounds". Folklore. 42 (3): 317–323. JSTOR 1255804.
^Astbury, B. E. (1935). "Beating the Bounds". Charity Organisation Quarterly. 9 (4): 197–199. JSTOR 44372929.
^Darian–Smith, Eve (1995). "Beating the Bounds: Law, Identity and Territory in the New Europe". Political and Legal Anthropology Review. 18 (1): 63–73. doi:10.1525/pol.1995.18.1.63. JSTOR 24497965.
^Bagshawe, Thomas W. (1953). "Beating the Bounds, Aspley Guise, Bedfordshire". Folklore. 64 (2): 349–350. doi:10.1080/0015587X.1953.9717362. JSTOR 1257422.
^Richard Muir, Be Your Own Landscape Detective (Sutton Publishing, 2007, p245)
February 28, 2023
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Boundaries particularly field boundaries are among the oldest features in an English rural landscape 1 Although a boundary itself is an abstract concept the boundary can often be seen by differences in land use on either side Contents 1 Longevity of boundaries 2 Hedgerow dating 3 Parish boundaries 3 1 Beating the Bounds 4 March dyke 5 Deer park boundaries 6 Former boundaries 7 NotesLongevity of boundaries EditBoundaries a real or imagined line that marks the limit of something Many field boundaries in the central region of England originated with the enclosure of the previous open fields in the 18th or 19th century In a few instances current field boundaries particularly in the West Country have been shown to have originated in the Bronze Age or Iron Age With a few exceptions however the attempt to establish pre Saxon boundaries has been largely fruitless 2 Areas that were never formally enclosed might yet prove a more fruitful area of research Hedgerow dating EditThe presence of bluebells in a hedge is often an indicator of an early hedge 3 It has been proposed that boundary hedges can be dated by hedgerow dating This involves counting the number of species in a 27 metre section of hedge In its simplest form each separate species suggests an age of 100 years A variety of additional complexities have been suggested but results have been mixed and the technique remains controversial Parish boundaries EditParish boundaries are of particular interest to landscape historians since they are often inherited from land holdings that date back to the middle Saxon period or earlier The coincidence of another landscape feature with a parish boundary can be used to date that feature for example in the Time Team episode screened on 11 March 2007 a mill leat was determined to pre date the Norman conquest because it coincided with a parish boundary The boundaries of a few Anglo Saxon estates were described in the boundary clauses of Anglo Saxon Charters These boundary clauses can sometimes be used to characterise the landscape at the time In some cases it has been possible to show that the boundaries of these Anglo Saxon estates correspond to the boundaries of the subsequent parish Parish boundaries are shown on the old 1 inch Ordnance Survey maps although these are the boundaries of the civil parish which may be different Parish boundaries are not shown on the modern Landranger maps Tithe maps from the early 19th century usually show the parish boundary at the time they were drawn Beating the Bounds Edit Main article Beating the bounds A long tradition exists in England of Beating the Bounds either an annual or seven yearly event 4 wherein parishioners would walk the bounds of the parish The event was deliberately organised to make it as memorable as possible and to hand down an intergenerational memory of the precise boundaries For civil parishes the ceremony may have begun with the Poor Law Act of 1601 or much older for the Processioning of churches dating from Anglo Saxon times 5 Older parishioners and local officials would walk the route as accurately as possible pointing out all the various landmarks and boundary markers along the way both natural and deliberate artefacts A distinctive feature of these perambulations was the performance of peculiar rituals with the youngest walkers in order to make particular points memorable These could include being passed through the window of a local pub rather than walking through the door being carried across a stream or being hung upside down by the ankles and their head bumped on the grass Such processions fell from practice in the Modernism of the mid 20th century 6 but there was some interest in their revival from the 1960s 7 Several were re enacted after a break of as many as 21 years 8 March dyke Edit The old march dyke between the baronies of Eglinton and Stone in North Ayrshire In Scotland a march dyke is the boundary between farms or previously baronies Deer park boundaries EditThe boundaries of medieval deer parks are often marked by pronounced earthworks 9 and for early parks they can coincide with parish boundaries Former boundaries EditBoundaries that have fallen out of use may still be traceable by using geophysics or as a result of earthworks lumps and bumps or cropmarks Cropmarks and earthworks are often visible in aerial photographs Earthworks are more easily seen on photographs taken when the sun is low in the sky and as a result shadows are more pronounced They can also become more easily seen when the ground has a slight dusting of snow Notes Edit Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica article Bound English Heritage http www english heritage org uk hc2006 upload pdf eastofengland2004 pdf Hooke Della 1998 The landscape of Anglo Saxon England Leicester University Press p 63 Archaeobotany or plants in the 4th dimension PDF Archived from the original PDF on 2010 04 01 Oliver Paul 2004 Beating the Bounds Switching Boundaries over Five Millennia Traditional Dwellings and Settlements Review 15 2 7 17 JSTOR 41758040 Tratman W S 1931 Beating the Bounds Folklore 42 3 317 323 JSTOR 1255804 Astbury B E 1935 Beating the Bounds Charity Organisation Quarterly 9 4 197 199 JSTOR 44372929 Darian Smith Eve 1995 Beating the Bounds Law Identity and Territory in the New Europe Political and Legal Anthropology Review 18 1 63 73 doi 10 1525 pol 1995 18 1 63 JSTOR 24497965 Bagshawe Thomas W 1953 Beating the Bounds Aspley Guise Bedfordshire Folklore 64 2 349 350 doi 10 1080 0015587X 1953 9717362 JSTOR 1257422 Richard Muir Be Your Own Landscape Detective Sutton Publishing 2007 p245 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Boundaries in landscape history amp oldid 1120893132, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
