1656 - Little Kiln Field, Wisborough Green

I went for a walk at Wisborough Green in the evening and although it was rather dull, the heat and oppressive humidity had gone completely which was good.

This field had been cut, baled and the bales wrapped in black polythene which seems to be the thing done with both silage and hay these days. Once again this rather inocuous field has a bit of history. The 1656 refers to the number on the Tithe Map and it's accompanying Apportionment book of Wisborough Green which dates from 1842. So number 1656 refers to Little KIln Field which was a part of nearby Harsfold Farm. This was owned by the Hon Vernon Levison Harcourt and occupied by Henry Harwood. The field then measured 11 acres, 1 Rood and 26 Perches.

Nowadays, many fields have been enlarged to take modern machinery. While some around this one have been treated in that way, this one has been made smaller and has a shaw or small wood running down the middle of it making it into two fields. It also had river frontage which has also been taken away by the addition of trees and hedgerow on that side making it smaller still. Once again a field out in the countryside can hide secrets of its past.