Why this ‘lost in time’ Nottinghamshire village offers a true taste of medieval England
It’s the only village in England that still operates the medieval 'open-field' farming system
The month of August is when many Nottinghamshire villages come alive with the sound of combine harvesters and the smell of freshly-cut fields.
Over the next few weeks, farmers across the county will be working day and night to harvest crops such as wheat and barley while the weather allows.
As a rural county, Nottinghamshire has a long and varied history of farming dating back thousands of years.
Thanks to modern technology, the farmers of 2025 use considerably different methods than generations before them.
However, one sleepy Nottinghamshire village has bucked that trend by using a farming system that has largely disappeared from England over the past 1,000 years.
The ‘open-field’ farming system used in Laxton
On the face of it, Laxton looks pretty much like your typical Nottingham village.
At the heart of the village is its pub, The Dovecote, which has been serving the local community since 1835.
The fact that the pub’s kitchen used to be pig sties provides an insight into just how rural the village is.
But the most fascinating aspect of Laxton lies away from the gaze of visitors.
Those driving into the village may notice a sign which says ‘England’s last open-field village’.
To you and I that may not mean much, but it’s actually quite significant for the farmers of Laxton.
So, what exactly is open-field farming?
Commonly used during the medieval period, open-field farming is essentially when large fields are divided into three individual strips of land.
Each farmer cultivates several strips within each field – the theory being that everyone has fair share of the best land and equal share of the poorer.
The boundaries of the strips and roadways and the common land in the fields is maintained through the ancient manorial court, known as the Court Leet.
But open-field farming isn’t Laxton’s only visible link to the Middle Ages.
Perhaps the most intriguing part of the village is hidden away from the main streets.
Dating back to the 11th century, Laxton Castle was first owned by Robert de Caux.
These days the ruins of the castle comprise several mounds, with visitors able to explore the site at their leisure.
Offering a true taste of medieval England, Laxton is well worth a visit this summer.