THE LOWER THAMES BASIN 389 



have been isolated from Hertfordshire and Middlesex in its field 

 systems. Nor does it seem to have been. The dividing line in 

 field usages, passed through the county rather than along the 

 border, and set apart the northwest as a region indistinguishable 

 from Hertfordshire in the aspect of its open fields. In the central 

 and southeastern part of the county, however, different arrange- 

 ments and possibly Kentish affinities are perceptible. 



The northwest is a continuation of the Hertfordshire highlands, 

 that here form part of the boundary of the midland plain. In 

 Essex the river Cam, flowing northward, issues from the hills, 

 which are noticeably lower than in Hertfordshire. From both 

 the valley and the hill region we have several terriers that agree 

 in demonstrating the prevalence of open fields in this part of the 

 county. In every way these fields were similar to those of Hert- 

 fordshire, and especially noteworthy is the fact that the numer- 

 ous parcels of a holding were never grouped as if lying in two or 

 three large arable areas. 



In some terriers the parcels were seldom larger than an acre 

 and were widely dispersed throughout the fields. At Wenden, for 

 example, the six acres which in 8 John formed part of a virgate 

 were located in twelve places.^ At other times several parcels 

 fell within one of the open-field divisions, the names of which 

 were of the most varied sort, often being reminiscent of hill and 

 woodland. Fifteen acres at Arkesden which were given to the 

 monks at Walden early in the fourteenth century are illustrative 

 of conditions in the district. The twenty parcels were located as 

 follows, the areas being in acres : — 



" in campo qui vocatur Newey, i, \ 



" in campo qui vocatur Mapeldeneswell, ij, g 



" in campo qui vocatur Apostolgrove, 2, f , ^ 



" in campo qui vocatur Witedune, f 



" in campo qui vocatur Blakedune, f , \, §, \, \, f 



" in campo qui vocatur Stockyng, i 



" in campo qui vocatur Burgatesshot, i 



" in campo qui vocatur Sevenacres, | 



" in campo qui vocatur Langeland, f , \ 



" in campo qui vocatur Wyndemelnessot, j." ^ 



' Feet of Fines for Essex (ed. R. E. G. Kirk, Essex Archaeol. Soc, 1899, etc.), 

 i. 37 (no. 197). ^ Harl. MS. 3697, f. 1436. 



