JCA 86 South Suffolk and North Essex Clayland.
2 JCA sub-units - 1: the River Valleys, 2: clay plateau.
1. Settlement and Development
Mixture of highly-dispersed and nucleated settlement follows a long tradition of both farming and textile
manufacture, the latter forming the basis of the area's extraordinary wealth in the 15th-16th centuries.
The prosperity brought about by the wool industry declined from the 17th century, leaving a remarkable
legacy of timber-framed, colour-washed 17th century houses, often with elaborate plasterwork or
pargetting.
The pattern of settlement largely in place at Domesday and fully established by the 18 th century,
remains extremely mixed and varied, from isolated farmsteads, small villages and hamlets associated
with strip greens and 'tyes', to larger villages and sizeable towns. Further evidence of the pattern of
medieval settlement is provided by the proliferation of isolated moated sites.
'End' settlements - hamlets which grew away from parent villages are characteristic of the North Essex
claylands.
High survival of moats, generally associated with high-status sites and of 12-13th century date, in this
area.
Timber framed and colour washed houses are commonplace, with many examples infilled or refaced
with brick in the 17th or 18th century. Some clay-lump and cob-walled buildings, predominantly of 19th
century date. Traditional thatch has largely been replaced by clay-tile.
20th century settlement and transport infrastructure expansion has had a significant impact on
countryside character.
2. Agriculture
The countryside of the boulder clay plateau supported an anciently enclosed landscape of mixed
farming practises, and a pattern of small isolated farms and farming hamlets around greens and
commons which retain a rich legacy of historic barns and other farm buildings. The claylands of
this area were more easily drained and suited to arable farming than the claylands further north
(JCA 83). By the 19th century much of this area specialised in the production of grain and the
fattening of cattle for the London market.
Medium survival of pre-1750 farmstead buildings (higher to east and south), particularly
farmhouses but also including medieval and later aisled barns. Larger farmsteads developed
as loose courtyard complexes, with 2 or more aisled or unaisled barns. High concentration of
aisled barns in this area. Barns typically have later cattle accommodation added on in the form of
outshots. Some examples of early cattle housing survive as smaller timber-frame structures dating from
the 17th century. Granaries and stables, mostly dating from the 18th century but with some notable
earlier examples. As arable and requirement for yard-fed cattle increased from late 18th century,
farmsteads were typically redeveloped with south-facing cattle courts. New barns were rarely built as
corn was commonly stacked outside. Dispersed and loose courtyard plans are still dominant in the area.
The development of the textile industry saw a rural landscape more urbanised than most in the
17th century, enabling smaller-scale farmsteads to survive, and also provided a legacy of fine parish
churches across the area.
By the 19th century much of the area specialised in production of grain and the fattening of cattle for the
London market.
Small medieval deer parks and the parkland settings of later country estates have left numerous traces
in the landscape, although none of the former and few of the latter have survived to anything like their
original extent.
3. Fields and boundary patterns
Despite some depredations in the latter part of the 20th century, the area to the north and east is still
predominantly one of close-grained irregular ancient enclosures, high hedges and winding lanes.
The heavily farmed landscape area contained little open arable in the medieval period. As a
consequence few areas, apart from in the Stour Valley, are dominated by more regular late 18 th or 19th
century enclosure.
Arable intensification in the late 20th century has had a significant impact across the landscape, more
especially to the south and west where field enlargement and boundary loss is now characteristic of
many areas.
The numerous narrow river valleys retain more cohesive patterns of anciently enclosed pasture.
4. Trees and woodland
Ancient woodland is widely scattered across the area, mainly in small parcels linked by thick hedgerows
which lend an overall wooded appearance to the landscape.
Much of this woodland shows evidence of former coppice management.
5. Semi-natural environments
Wood pasture and ancient woodland of Hatfield (former royal hunting) Forest is an important historical
and ecological resource.
6. River and coastal features.
Concentrations of archaeological evidence along the areas river valleys, notably the R. Stort.