This area is classed by the "Isle of Axholme Landscape Characterisation Project" (Miller 1997) as part of a "Moorland Allotment Sub-Zone" (p72). This area marks an area which has been subject to amalgamation of the historically mapped field boundaries and settlement pattern described by Miller as, "long narrow intakes . . . [including] farms and smallholdings characterised by regular plots in blocks and strips, some of the latter up to 3 km long. . ." (p72-74). This pattern remains well preserved in HSY4394. Within this area the pattern is partially legible with enough boundaries surviving in the form of ditches to illustrate the characteristic of improved moorland fringe. The western boundary of this area appears to coincide with the western boundary of Thorne Moors as depicted by Jefferys' (1775) and may not have been fully drained and allotmented until the Hatfield, Thorne, Fishlake, Stainforth and Sykehouse enclosure Act: Award of 1811:1825 (dates from English 1985, 65). The accompanying map of this award (Sheffield Archives ref A152) shows a large number of allotments in this area where the responsibility for making new boundaries is shown by 'T' marks. Comparison of successive OS maps suggests that the most significant period of boundary loss within this area was during the period 1987-1997. This loss appears to be directly related to intensification of arable production in this area (perhaps by recent improvements in drainage efficiency. The area is also bisected by the site of Thorne Colliery and its related model village of 'Moor Ends'.