Chequers and Twin Ponds: From Ridge and Furrow to Cycle Way

How historical field patterns shaped today’s community pathways

Now serving as a cycle way and play area, the Twin Ponds area (Elsham Way) once displayed ridge and furrow contours on its surface. Though not as deep as those in Furrow Field, these patterns were caused by the old method of dividing a field into furlongs, each worked by one person—similar to today’s leisure gardens, except in those days people’s livelihoods depended upon it. The field name “Chequers” comes from the Wild Service Tree, whose folk name is Chequers, believed to reference the chequered appearance of its seeds. This area shows how Seven Fields has adapted over time, with some sections transitioning to recreational use while maintaining connections to agricultural heritage.