Wharram Percy
This term we were given a choice of modules to take, and I have chosen Medieval Settlements and Communities, since this is the time period of most interest to me. This course is another archaeology course and includes studying medieval villages, towns, castles, monasteries, and artifacts. This week we had a field trip to a deserted village in the East Yorkshire Wolds called Wharram Percy. Although it is called a deserted village, these villagers were actually evicted by the influential Percy family that owned the land, so that it could be turned over to pastureland for sheep. The church continued to serve the parish, which included many other villages, until 1948. These photos show the old layout of the tofts and crofts, the village mill pond, and the now ruined church, which dates from c1100. The church was remodeled multiple times in the 13th, 14th, and 15th centuries. Check it out...
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| The entrance to the village. |
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| The Church and Millpond |
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| Ridges show where the edges of the crofts and tofts lie beneath the grass. |
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| A 13th century aisle archway filled in with a 15th century window casement. |
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| A Norman Column |
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| The churchyard. |
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| The Nave and Chancel. |
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| Reused Norman masonry |
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| Deserted once more. |
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| Hi ho hi ho, its off to Pickering we go... |
