Reasons for Designation
Dylings are medieval fields on the siltlands of the Fens and comprise blocks
of strips of cultivated land which were often bordered by droves and dykes.
These strips were separated by ditches and were broader than those of the
`ridge and furrow' system which is more typical of the uplands. They also
differed in that they were ploughed flat, rather than ridged. Very few
examples of this distinctive regional pattern of cultivation are known to
survive as earthworks in the Fens and all good examples which do survive as
earthworks will merit protection.
The field system 250m north of Church End Farm is one of the best preserved
in the Fens. The monument contains archaeological information concerning
medieval farming practice, and evidence relating to this and to the local
environment during the same period will be contained in deposits in the
ditches and below the surface of the field strips.
Details
The monument includes part of a field system of medieval date, known as a
dyling, located on siltland and visible as earthworks under pasture. The site
lies 220m north of Quadring parish church and was formerly within that parish,
although now the parish boundary runs along the southern edge of the monument.
The system comprises three separate but adjoining sets of parallel field
strips, aligned at right angles to an old water channel between 7m and 10m
wide, which follows a slightly meandering course east-west across the
northern half of the monument, then turns south along its western edge.
Ditches, which have become partly infilled, but which are visible as linear
hollows approximately 3m wide and 0.75m to 1m deep, separate the strips, which
range in width from 5m to 34m and are variously rounded, flattened or very
slightly dished in profile. Two sets of strips, with a maximum length of 98m
and 130m respectively, run north and south from the east-west leg of the old
water channel, and the third set, to the south of these and now separated from
them by a hedge, runs eastwards from the southern leg of the water channel for
a maximum distance of 175m. Each set terminates on a line between 3m and 8m
short of a present field boundary.
All fences and gates within the area of the scheduling the modern dyke which
crosses it, and a water trough in the north western corner of the site, are
excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath these features is
included.
MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.
