Explore how fields and their boundaries have shaped North Yorkshire’s countryside from the medieval period to the present day, and discover the hidden history of the landscape through historic maps and documents from the archives

Contents:

[Clicking on links below will open pages; clicking on most images within pages will open full-screen versions]

• Fields – an introduction
• Units of measurement and aerial photography
• The open-field system
• Enclosure and the changing landscape
  • Parliamentary enclosure
  • Enclosure in focus: Bainbridge
  • Enclosure in focus: Alne and Fountains Earth Moor
• Landed estates
• Field names
• Reading the historic landscape through maps and documents
  • Crambe, near Malton
  • Rand Grange, near Bedale
  • Richmond
  • Wombleton, near Helmsley
  • Dale, near Hawnby
  • Walburn, Swaledale
• Further reading and useful links

These blog pages have been written by Gail Falkingham to accompany an exhibition at North Yorkshire Archives from 21st May to 27th August 2026, with additional sections on parliamentary enclosure and enclosure in focus by Tom Richardson.