The balks

Whenever people enjoy a walk round the "Balks" they are walking on history!

"Balks" were narrow strips of unploughed grass that divided one piece of land from another. This was the start of the "Enclosure" system, which preceded the formation of fields. From early in its history Hooton Pagnell had three wide balks running due east from the village:-

Narrow Balk (or Love Balk)
Broad Balk
Lenny Balk

References to "Balks" can still be commonly found in place names all over the county, and there is evidence to suggest that in some places balks were built up to form defensive ramparts.

(Visitors should note that only Narrow Balk to the south is a designated Public
Footpath)