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The earthwork remains of the deserted medieval village of North Middleton are a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

Aerial view: Link

The remains of North Middleton medieval village lie each side of a tributary of Coldgate Water. There are two rows of small plots, with enclosures and platforms representing at least six buildings facing each other across a hollow way which runs east to west. The remains survive as earthworks, in places over one metre high. The exposed walls of some buildings show their construction of stone bonded with clay. The largest building is about 27m long and the smallest 8m. Other features of the village include a well, a possible kiln, and areas of ridge and furrow cultivation.

Old documents suggest this is the village of North Middleton, although it was originally called Midilest Middleton when first mentioned in 1242. Some of the documents help to give an idea of how many people may have lived here, for example in 1296 there were eight taxpayers and in 1580 there were eleven tenants. The settlement probably moved at the end of the C18th and only a few buildings were left standing here by about 1800.

There are two ruined modern cottages on the north side of the village.

Keys to the Past: Link Archive Link
Pastscape: Link
Historic England: Link

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