Day 56. Field Names

Some of Preston's fields. Current names are in bold, with earlier names indicated if known. The dates indicate the first known use. Note the kinks in the boundaries of Barn Hill and Watching Hill (see Day 55).

Every field has a name, as did every furlong in the open field. Some of these names date to Medieval times, although others are relatively modern and have been changed several times over the centuries. These names offer a wealth of information about the landscape, its quality, ownership, and many other things besides.

After the Enclosures of the 1750s, discussed over the past few days, many of the old furlong names were transferred to the new fields. Many current field names contain the element 'furlong', indicating this antiquity. Examples in Preston include Brook Furlong and March Furlong. Names including the term 'close' – an enclosed field (see Day 54) – probably also date to this time.

The term 'field' as we define it today originated only in the 19^th century, and only a few of Preston's field names actually include the word 'field'. These names are generally modern. Allotment Field was renamed such in the late 19^th century; Mushroom Field in the mid 20^th century. The word 'ground' is instead the most common term used in names.

March Furlong and March (or Marsh) Meadow were pre-enclosure names near the Marchfont Brook. A nearby field is called Marsh Furlong today. These names are of considerable antiquity. This may be the area called 'The Marshe' in a document of 1597 – if so, it is the oldest known field name in Preston. March refers to a border land; the brook has long defined the boundary between Preston and Radbrook manors as well as the counties of Gloucester and Warwick.