| Summary : The deserted medieval village of Studley Magna or Studlei Magna is situated within the northern area of Studley Royal Park. It has pre-conquest origins and was documented as a vill, one of seven prebends of Ripon Cathedral established during the 1060s. The earliest Lord of the Manor at Studley Magna was documented in 1180. In 1988 settlement earthworks comprising sub rectangular enclosures were identified. It was noted that these were not representative of standard tofts and crofts typical of deserted medieval villages in this area but of more substantial, possibly affluent houses and gardens. Excavations at High Stables recorded an occupation phase dating to 1180-1200 which related to metalworking and other industrial or agricultural actitivies. During the early 13th century the village was reorganised involving construction of a 22 metre wide road, a new access route to Fountains Abbey, which had property units arranged perpendicular to it. One of the excavated properties has been interpreted as a cruck framed house, possibly with an upper storey. It was accompanied by at least two outbuildings, had a cobbled yard and a separate garden. To the north of the house, the remains of a smithy were located.The village supported a mixed agricultural economy and was relatively affluent. Much of its agricultural holdings extended over much of the current deer park and survive as earthworks. Three open fields of ridge and furrow as visible to the south of the village. A series of strip lynchets are also visible. A depopulation of the village started during the early 14th century and had been completely abandoned by the last quarter of the 14th century century. |
More information : A deserted Medieval village and house of high status. Excavations in 1989-91 and associated documentary research revealed that Studley Magna was one of three settlements occupying a township-sized territory south-west of Ripon, bounded by the rivers Laver and Skell. The origins of settlement inside the present Studley Royal Park, where the settlement now lies, are undoubtedly pre-Conquest, although only Late Neolithic flints were found to pre-date the Conquest on the excavated site. The settlement was reorganised around a substantial cobbled road in the mid-C13th. The road is known to pre-date 1230, and may form part of the reoganisation of monastic land. On the south side of this road, a substantial house of high status was built. To the north, the remains of a smithy were located. The whole complex was deserted in the middle decades of the C14th, probably, according to documentary sources, in July 1362. The origins of the deer park at Studley, which succeeded the abandonment of the vill, can now be traced back to 1343. (1-2)
The deserted medieval village of Studley Magna or Studlei Magna (National Trust number 30019) is situated within the northern area of the park. It has pre-conquest origins and was documented as a vill, one of seven prebends of Ripon Cathedral established during the 1060s. The earliest Lord of the Manor at Studley Magna was documented in 1180.
In 1988 settlement earthworks comprising sub rectangular enclosures were identified in the north of the park. It was noted that these were not representative of standard tofts and crofts typical of DMVs in this area but of more substantial, possibly affluent houses and gardens . The excavations at High Stables recorded an occupation phase dating to 1180-1200 which related to metalworking and other industrial or agricultural actitivies. During the early 13th century the village was reorganised involving construction of a 22 metre wide road, a new access route to Fountains Abbey, which had property units arranged perpendicular to it. One of the excavated properties has been interpreted as a cruck framed house, possibly with an upper storey. It was accompanied by at least two outbuildings, had a cobbled yard and a separate garden.
The village supported a mixed agricultural economy and was relatively affluent. Much of its agricultural holdings extended over much of the current deer park and survive as earthworks. Three open fields of ridge and furrow as visible to the south of the village. A series of strip lynchets are also visible. A depopulation of the village started during the early 14th century and had been completely abandoned by the last quarter of the century. (2-3) |