There are believed to be around 200 lost settlements in Norfolk, England.[1][2] This includes places which have been abandoned as settlements due to a range of reasons and at different dates.[3] Types of lost settlement include deserted medieval villages (DMVs), relocated or "shrunken" villages, those lost to coastal erosion and other settlements known to have been "lost" or significantly reduced in size over the centuries, including those evacuated during World War II due to the creation of the Stanford Training Area. There are estimated to be as many as 3,000 deserted medieval villages in England.
List of lost settlements
This list is of settlements which are known to have been lost and where the location can either be confirmed or is strongly suspected by the use of archaeological or documentary evidence. Settlements where there is less conclusive evidence as to their existence are recorded below this list. Grid references are given where known.
Site of medieval village on the grounds of Anmer Hall. The village appeared in the Domesday Book and a detailed description of it in around 1600 exists.
[8][9]
Appleton
TF705 274
Deserted medieval village mentioned in the Domesday Book in the modern parish of Flitcham with Appleton. The round tower of St Mary's church is still standing. See also Little Appleton.
Site of a deserted medieval village with substantial earthworks remaining.
[22]
Bawsey
TF663 207
Settlement site dating from the Roman to medieval periods with evidence of Bronze Age and Iron Age occupation. The site featured in an episode of the television programme Time Team. A medieval village at Bawsey is believed to have been abandoned by 1517.
[23][24]
Bayfield
TG050 405
Deserted medieval village site. The church is ruined and was disused from the 17th century.
Possible site of deserted medieval village mentioned in the Domesday Book and Nomina Villarum. Possibly removed due to emparkment in the 1780s.
[28]
Belhawe
Unknown
Deserted settlement within the old parish of Arminghall. The church was dedicated to St Andrew and is now within Bixley parish.
[29]
Bickerston
TG086 087
Deserted medieval village mentioned in the Domesday Book and Nomina Villarum. There were 13 taxpayers in 1329 but just six by 1332. Probably finally abandoned in the 17th century.
Deserted medieval village with only the parish church, the only one in England dedicated to St Wandregesilius, remaining. Possible abandoned due to migration to the nearby city of Norwich.
[12][31][32]
Boyland
TM222 943
Site of deserted medieval village and Boyland Hall.
Deserted medieval village identified through a series of earthworks. May be the same place as Sengham or possibly the location of Tattersett St Andrew. Close to the site of Coxford Priory.
Also known as Buckingham Parva. Mentioned in the Domesday Book and Nomina Villarum. All traces of the medieval settlement were destroyed by the 19th century. The modern village and hall were evacuated by the remaining 73 residents in 1942 and became part of the Stanford Training Area. The area is still controlled for military training by the British Army.
Site of the Roman vicus associated with the fort of Gariannonum. Was in Suffolk until boundary changes in 1974. The site may have later been the location of the Saxon monastery of Cnobheresburg, founded in around 630 by Saint Fursey.
Earthworks showing the prior extent of the shrunken village of Burgh next Aylsham.
[50]
Burgh Parva
TG044 335
Deserted medieval village.
[51]
Bylaugh
TG036 184
Possible site of deserted medieval village mentioned in the Domesday Book. The village was shrunken significantly by the 15th century and was probably abandoned soon afterwards.
Village mentioned in the Domesday Book and which may have been located in the modern parish of Crostwick.
[64]
Cley St Peter
TF804 044
Deserted medieval village mentioned in the Domesday Book. The parish church burnt down in the 16th century and was never rebuilt.
[65]
Clipstone
Unknown
Mentioned in the Domesday Book and as Clifton in 1316. By 1334 the village had become part of Kettlestone. The site of the medieval village is unknown.
[66][67]
Colveston
TL794 955
Deserted medieval village. Depopulated by the early 18th century
[68]
Cotes
TF85 07
Deserted medieval village referred to in 14th century documents and which survived into the 17th century. Petygards formed part of the larger village of Cotes.
Coastal flooding and erosion destroyed most of the village by around 1570, with only 14 houses remaining after a major flood event in January 1604 during which around 66 properties were lost. The church tower survived until 1895 when it was lost to the sea. The site is on the foreshore, with remains occasionally visible after storms or significant erosion events.
Deserted medieval village mentioned in the Domesday Book at which point it was a relatively large settlement. By 1428 it had fewer than 10 inhabitants and was joined with Quarles. It seems to have been abandoned by the mid-16th century. The church tower of St Edmund's Church still stands.
[81][82]
Erwellestun
Unknown
Deserted medieval village probably located in the north of the parish of Kirby Cane near Hales Hall.
Deserted medieval village which had 15 taxpayers in 1329 and had been reduced to three cottages by 1805. The church was demolished in the 16th century.
Deserted medieval village mentioned in the Domesday Book. The site is well preserved as it has never been deep ploughed. Abandoned in the 16th century, possibly due to very heavy clay soils hindering agricultural development.[93]
Deserted medieval village which was a relatively large settlement at the Domesday Book. Granted a Market by the Crown in 1287. Site marked by Guton Hall in the modern parish of Brandiston.
[106]
H
Settlement name
Grid reference
Notes
References
Hales
TM380 960
A variety of medieval settlement sites exist within Hales, including at Hales Green. Iron Age and Roman settlement sites have also been located.
A variety of settlement sites, including from the Roman and medieval periods.
[113][114]
Herringby
TG446 103
Deserted medieval village mentioned in the Domesday Book and Nomina Villarum. Parish was united with Stokesby in around 1580 and the church demolished in 1610.
[115]
Hethel
TG172 004
Possible site of the village of Hethel, the church of which was mentioned in the Domesday Book.
Land enclosed by landlord Thomas Thursby for use as sheep pasture. Totally depopulated by 1517 - the only Norfolk village to be found to have been depopulated by enclosure at the time of Wolsey's Commission of Inquiry of that year.
Recorded in the Domesday Book and Nomina Villarum. Village was removed to make way for the building of Houghton Hall in the 1730s, although it may have already been partly abandoned.
Deserted medieval village mentioned in the Domesday Book and Nomina Villarum. In the 18th century it contained more than 32 houses but had been reduced to a handful of buildings by 1805. The church was last used in 1944 before being rediscovered in the 1990s and restored. It contains a series of late Saxon wall paintings.
Deserted medieval village mentioned in the Domesday Book and Nomina Villarum. The village had a population of 21 in 1352 and had 10 householders by 1428. The church was ruined in 1602, having been in use in 1557, and by 1805 only two or three houses remained in the settlement.
[130]
J
Settlement name
Grid reference
Notes
References
Jerpestun
Unknown
Village mentioned in the Domesday Book and other medieval documents. Located close to Loddon and Hales.
Village mentioned in the Domesday Book which was largely abandoned by the 18th century at which point the remains were emparked as part of the development of Kilverstone Hall
[136]
Kilverstone Heath
TL90 86
A temporary settlement for railway workers was created on the site in the 1840s.
Deserted medieval village site abandoned by the mid 18th century. The modern village was abandoned by the remaining 37 residents in 1942 when the Stanford Training Area was established.
[44][140]
Langhale
TM30 97
Village mentioned in the Domesday Book. Probably a dispersed settlement with the parish church in ruins by the early 16th century.
[141][142][143]
Letha
Unknown
Village site mentioned in Domesday. Somewhere in the Hundred of Blofield.
Deserted medieval village recorded in the Domesday Book and visible as earthworks. St Peter and St Paul's Church dates from the 12th century. The parish was united with Beeston in the 20th century.
Mentioned as a separate town in Domesday. The church was demolished in the 14th century and the settlement abandoned by 1547. The site may be that of Great Breckles.
Possible site of a deserted medieval village mentioned in the Domesday Book. On the site of a Roman settlement with significant number of Roman archaeological finds. Over 100 houses were present in the mid 15th century but only two remained by 1802. The precise location is undisclosed.
Deserted medieval settlement thought to be located in the parish of Wreningham. The church was dedicated to St Peter and the parish was united with Great Wreningham by 1414.
Village mentioned in the Domesday Book. It was either lost to coastal erosion, possibly in the 17th or 18th century, or occupied a site in the parish of Mautby.
Deserted settlement to the north of Kings Lynn originally on the edge of The Wash. The church was washed away in 1271. Land reclamation means that the site is now on the banks of the River Great Ouse and is now a chemical works.
Deserted medieval village cleared to make way for grazing in the late 16th or early 17th century. The ruins of St Margaret's Church remain south of the mid-17th century Pudding Norton Hall.
Village mentioned in the Domesday Book. Was joined with Egmere for taxation purposes by the 15th century. The church was ruined by 1571 and the village abandoned by 1713.
The parish church was ruined by 1687 as villagers moved to more effective agricultural sites.
[206]
Semer
Unknown
Village mentioned in the Domesday Book and in land grants dating form the 14th century. The site is unknown but is likely to be in either the parish of Dickleburgh and Rushall or Pulham St Mary.
Village mentioned in the Domesday Book (Cromer was not) with a population of over 100. Lost to coastal erosion by about 1400, with the first losses to the churchyard recorded in 1336. The site of the church tower was the probable cause of the sinking of the steam tug Victoria in 1888.
[61][62][63][80][208][209][210]
Shotford
TM251 821
Site of small medieval settlement.
[211]
Shotesham St Mary
TM238 988
Deserted medieval village. Shotesham was detailed as four parishes in the Domesday Book.
Village mentioned in the Domesday Book with earthworks remaining. The modern settlement was abandoned in 1942 when the Stanford Training Area was established with the removal of the remaining 110 inhabitants. The area remains a British Army training area with no permanent population.
[44][46][221]
Stanninghall
TG255 175
Deserted medieval village, the only remains of which are the ruined church tower.
[222]
Stinton
TG118 255
Deserted settlement mentioned in the Domesday Book in the parish of Salle.
[223]
Stoke-cum-Norton
Unknown
Settlement is referred to in documents but the location is unknown.
Medieval village listed in the Domesday Book and Nomina Villarum. Lost to enclosure of common land in 1597. Now part of the Stanford Military Training Area established in 1942 when 27 people were evacuated.
[44][225][226]
Sutton
TF895 206
Mentioned in the Domesday Book and deserted by the post medieval period
[227]
Swathing
TF986 058
Deserted medieval settlement mentioned in the Domesday Book.
Deserted village which declined from the 17th century. Parish was abolished in 1935 and combined with Pudding Norton.
[192][230]
Thorpe Parva
TM161 794
Mentioned in the Domesday Book, the parish was united with Scole in 1482 and the church demolished in around 1540, with the tower remaining as a dovecote. One family lived in the village by 1739.
Mentioned in the Domesday Book and Nomina Villarum, with 28 taxpayers in 1329 and 23 in 1377. Depopulated by 1635.
[234]
Thurton
TG100 214
Possible site of village mentioned in the Domesday Book and which was later known as Middleton-in-Witchingham.
[235]
Thuxton
TG035 075
Deserted village probably occupied between the 13th and 15th centuries. Heavy clay soils may have led to abandonment. Possibly also known as Thurmanston.
[236]
Tofts
Unknown
Deserted medieval settlement mentioned in the Domesday Book. Combined with Great Ellingham for taxation purposes in the late 14th century.
[237]
Toimere
TF655 066
Deserted settlement mentioned in the Domesday Book.
Site of a deserted medieval village. The modern village, which had 200 residents, was abandoned in 1942 when the Stanford Training Area was established.
[44][239]
Twanton
TM175 929
Possible site of deserted medieval village mentioned in the Domesday Book. Also known as Tharanton.
Deserted medieval village. Mentioned in the Domesday Book and Nomina Villarum. Land lost to agricultural enclosure from the 17th century was a reason for abandonment.
Marked on a map of 1575 but mostly abandoned by 1771.
[249]
West Tofts
TL837 928
Deserted medieval village cleared to make way for the development of Lynford Hall park in the 17th century. The modern village and hall were evacuated in 1942 and became part of the Stanford Training Area. The population of 135 was rehoused. The hall was demolished after 1945 and the area is still controlled for military training by the British Army, although the parish church still stands and is used at Christmas for a carol service.
Village mentioned in the Domesday Book. Possibly lost to coastal erosion in the 15th century.
[61][62][63][80][254]
Windall or Windle
TM427 939
Approximate site of deserted medieval village. Also known as Wyndale.
[255]
Winston
TM401 931
The parish was joined with Gillingham in 1440 with the parish church having fallen into disuse by the 14th century.
[256][257]
Wolterton
TG164 324
Deserted village on the site of Wolterton Hall. Mentioned in the Domesday Book and the Nomina Villarum, it had 37 tax payers in 1377.
[258][259]
Wyndale
See Windall
Wyveling
TF692 205
Deserted medieval settlement with Saxon and medieval pottery finds. Manor noted with Bawsey in the Nomina Villarum.
[260]
List of possible lost settlements
In addition to confirmed or strongly suspected sites of lost villages, there are other locations which are believed to be the site of lost settlements. These are generally deserted medieval villages where there is some archaeological or other evidence to suggest that settlements existed but where identification is uncertain.
Marked on a map of 1631 as Gnattington Green and possibly the site of a deserted medieval village.
[263]
Hackford
TG077 222
Possible site of Hackford deserted medieval village. Hackford remained a separate parish until 1935. The site of the village is unclear. All Saints church was lost to fire in 1543 and little remains.
[264][265][266]
Helmingham or Morton
TG125 158
A possible site for Helmingham deserted medieval village, mentioned in the Domesday Book and Nomina Villarum. It is also suggested that Helmingham is elsewhere in the parish of Morton on the Hill and this site is possibly the village of Morton.
^Driver.L (2008) Bawsey, Norfolk in The Lost Villages of England, pp. 86-87, London: New Holland Publishers (UK) Ltd. Available online, retrieved 2015-10-25.
^Roman, Middle Saxon, Late Saxon and medieval settlement, Norfolk Heritage Explorer. Retrieved 2015-11-14.
^Site of Roman vicus, Burgh Castle, Norfolk Heritage Explorer. Retrieved 2015-11-15.
^Medieval shrunken village and multi-period pottery sherds, Church Lane, Norfolk Heritage Explorer. Retrieved 2015-11-15.
^Deserted medieval village of Burgh Parva, St Mary's Church and multi-period finds, Norfolk Heritage Explorer. Retrieved 2015-10-26.
^Possible site of Bylaugh deserted medieval village, Norfolk Heritage Explorer. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
^Venta Icenorum (Caistor St Edmund) Roman town, Norfolk Heritage Explorer. Retrieved 2015-11-15.
^Caldecote deserted village and multi-period finds, Norfolk Heritage Explorer. Retrieved 2015-10-26.
^ a b c dParish Summary: Lynford, Norfolk Heritage Explorer. Retrieved 2015-10-26.
^Calvelly deserted medieval village, Norfolk Heritage Explorer. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
^Deserted medieval village of Cantley, Norfolk Heritage Explorer. Retrieved 2015-11-03.
^Site of All Saints' Church, Cantelose/Cantley, Norfolk Heritage Explorer. Retrieved 2015-11-03.
^Earthworks of medieval village, Carleton Forehoe, Norfolk Heritage Explorer. Retrieved 2015-11-15.
^Choseley deserted medieval village, Norfolk Heritage Explorer. Retrieved 2015-11-14.
^ a b c dPhoto Gallery: Exhibition reveals secrets of Norfolk's Lost Villages, Eastern Daily Press, 2012-08-19. Retrieved 2015-11-03.
^ a b c d e fAggregate dredging and the Norfolk coastline, British Marine Aggregate Producers Association & The Crown Estate, 2015. Retrieved 2015-11-03.
^ a b c d e fHistoric Seascape Characterisation - East Yorkshire to Norfolk, Newcastle University. Retrieved 2015-11-04.
^Clare deserted medieval village, Norfolk Heritage Explorer. Retrieved 2015-11-14.
^Cley St Peter deserted medieval settlement, Norfolk Heritage Explorer. Retrieved 2015-10-26.
^Site of small enclosures of possible medieval to post medieval date, perhaps the former site of Rackheath village, Norfolk Heritage Explorer. Retrieved 2015-11-14.
^Rainthorpe Hall and the possible site of Rainthorpe deserted medieval settlement, Norfolk Heritage Explorer. Retrieved 2015-11-09.
^Medieval settlement of Reston, Norfolk Heritage Explorer. Retrieved 2015-11-14.
^Barret Ringstead or Ringstead Parva deserted medieval settlement, Norfolk Heritage Explorer. Retrieved 2015-10-26.
^Historic England. "Ringstead Parva (356596)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 26 October 2015.