Map of Laxton, Nottinghamshire, showing the distribution of land between farms, c.1939

The collection consists of one item:

Printed Ordnance Survey map, 6 inches to the mile (Sheet XIX SE), dated 1921, and covering the area of Laxton, Egmanton, Kneesall, Kersall, Kirton, Maplebeck, Ompton, Ossington and Weston in Nottinghamshire.

The central area of the map covering Laxton, Moorhouse, Kneesall and part of Weston has been annotated in a variety of different colours to show the different tenancies in existence c.1939; fields and strips occupied by the same farmer are shown scattered across the open fields and enclosures of Laxton; each farmer is also assigned a number, and their names are given in a key at the edge of the map.

Laxton in Nottinghamshire is famous for being the last English village to operate the open field system of farming. The Earls Manvers managed the Manor of Laxton until 1952 when Gervas Evelyn Pierrepont, 6th Earl Manvers, sold the Laxton estate to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. The estate has been in the hands of the Crown Estate Commissioners since 1981.

This map was annotated by K.C. Edwards and J.D. Chambers. Kenneth Edwards C.B.E. (1904-1982) was a lecturer in the Department of Geology and Geography at University College, Nottingham, from 1926 to 1934, and Head of the Department of Geography at the College, later the University of Nottingham, from 1934 until his retirement in 1970. He founded the 'East Midlands Geographer' periodical in 1954.

Jonathan David Chambers (1898-1970) was born and brought up in Nottingham, graduating from the University College in 1919. After some years as English master at Ashby Grammar School, he became lecturer in history in the Department of Adult Education at the University College. He was awarded his Ph.D. in 1927. His connection with the University was interrupted by a return to Ashby Grammar School during the War, but in 1946 he became head and later Professor of the Department of Economic and Social History, a post which he held until his retirement in 1965. His publications included 'The open fields of Laxton, Notts', in Transactions of the Thoroton Society 32 (1928), and 'Laxton : the last English open field village' (London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, c.1964, new edition 1979).

No archival arrangement has been necessary

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The map was acquired by the Department of Manuscripts, University of Nottingham, in 1982.

Other maps of the strip system at Laxton in the Manvers Collection (Ref: Ma). A guide to archives relating to Laxton can be found on the 'Laxton: Living in an Open Field Village' learning resource on the Manuscripts and Special Collections website, http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/manuscriptsandspecialcollections/learning/laxton/introduction.aspx