Medieval Period c 1300 AD

This is a medieval vaccary or cattle ranching landscape, with two vaccary farms depicted. Vaccaries were held by the lordships of medieval Lancashire and supplied draught oxen for the lord's household or for sale, while dairy produce (butter and cheese) was at the disposal of the vaccary keepers. In the middle distance small fields containing ridge and furrow cultivation are depicted with two people cutting hay, an important winter fodder crop. On the fells a dry stone wall separates the heather moor from land that has been taken into cultivation, and within this moor wall are funnels, which are used to drive cattle down from the upland pasture of the fells. Cattle are hefted to the hillside like sheep are in the modern landscape and do not roam beyond the borders of their territory.