Lazenby Medieval Village, Coast to Coast
More Articles in the Danby Wiske to Swainby subsection
Turfed over remains of Lazenby Lost Medieval Village
Lazenby Medieval Village, Danby Wiske, Coast to Coast
Lazenby Medieval Village, a scheduled ancient monument, is clearly visible from Danby Lane, the main road out of Danby Wiske. The Lost Village surrounds the listed Lazenby Hall, and mostly comprises the land between the Hall and the lane. The remains of the medieval village consist of rectangular house platforms, enclosures around a network of hollow ways and sunken roads, paddocks, a dovecot or windmill base, fish ponds and village boundary banks. The village is believed to have been inhabited until the 14th century. The village remains have been turfed over and are recognised by their uniform shapes.
The site of the Lost Village is only a short distance north of Danby Wiske Church and the Danby Rectory Moat. A through lane leads from Danby Wiske past the Lazenby Cottages and rejoins Danby Lane near Long Plantation.
Lazenby Hall & Lost Village
Lazenby Medieval Village is not much more than the sunken remains and outlines of some of the village buildings. Often called the Lazenby Lost Village, it lies mostly between Lazenby Hall and the first fence boundary as seen from Danby Lane. Best viewing is by walking along the surfaced track from Danby Lane signed to Lazenby Hall.
Lazenby Medieval Village
Medieval villages were sited in the middle of a parish or town so as to share resources such as farming land, meadows and woods. Village remains largely consist of roads and tracks, house and barn platforms, paddocks and crofts. Their importance lies in comprehending rural life immediately following the Norman Conquest. The grassed area between the River Wiske and the ridgetop has numerous fallen buildings.
Lazenby Boundary Stone
This Boundary Stone is located at the front entrance verge to Lazenby Hall. It is made from an old mill stone. The Lost Village is referred to in the Domesday Survey of 1086. At that time there were 13 households resident in the village, but it was abandoned in the 14th century because of the risk of the Black Death coming from rats living beside the River Wiske.
Ridges and Holloways
The turfed over Village remains are seen as raised walls and sunken holloways. Lazenby Hall, dating to the 17th century, is a Grade II Scheduled Monument. Lazenby Medieval Village was abandoned during the 14th century. It is a scheduled monument but without a grading. The old buildings are rectangular raised areas.
Close up of Village Remains
The distinctive patterns and shapes are the only physical clues remaining as to the whereabous of the Lost Village of Lazenby. The most developed areas are close to Lazenby Hall, which is thought to be built over the Lazenby Manor House, in the centre of the Village.
Ancient Holloway
Holloways at Lazenby Medieval Village are indicated by sunken tracks running in a straight line around the perimeter of the Lost Village.
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