Sample site: Wharram Percy 1 (AQA GCSE History): Revision Notes
The historic environment of Norman England: Wharram Percy
Introduction to Wharram Percy
Wharram Percy serves as an excellent example for understanding life in Norman villages and how settlements developed over time. This deserted mediaeval village in North Yorkshire provides archaeologists with valuable insights into how ordinary people lived during the Norman period and beyond.
Wharram Percy is particularly valuable to historians because it represents a complete mediaeval village that was abandoned rather than continuously developed, preserving archaeological evidence that would otherwise be lost under modern buildings.
Context and background
Wharram Percy represents a typical mediaeval village that has been extensively studied by archaeologists. The site contains the remains of a mediaeval church, foundations of two manor houses, evidence of 40 peasant houses, and various outbuildings. What makes this site particularly valuable is that the manor houses and church were the only stone buildings - all other structures were built from wood, showing the clear social hierarchy of mediaeval village life.
The village's name comes from the Percy family, who were Norman nobles that took control of the settlement after the Norman Conquest. This demonstrates how the Normans established their authority over existing English communities by taking ownership of lands and villages.
The contrast between stone and timber buildings at Wharram Percy provides crucial evidence for understanding Norman social hierarchy - stone buildings indicated wealth and permanent status, while timber structures reflected the lower social position of peasants.
Location and early development
Wharram Percy sits in a valley in North Yorkshire, strategically positioned with connections to ancient transport networks. People had lived in this area since prehistoric times, and one of the main roads leading to the village actually dates back to the Roman period, showing the long history of settlement in this location.
The village itself was probably founded during the Anglo-Saxon period, between 850 and 950 CE. However, it experienced significant growth and development between the 10th and 12th centuries, which coincides with the Norman period. This growth pattern reflects how Norman rule brought stability and economic development to many English villages.
Function and daily life
Wharram Percy functioned as a typical rural village with several important purposes. The settlement provided accommodation for different social classes - the lord's manor house represented the top of the social hierarchy, while 40 peasant houses sheltered the working population who formed the backbone of village life.
Daily Life in Wharram Percy:
The archaeological evidence reveals how villagers lived and worked:
- Morning: Peasants would tend to livestock (sheep, cows, pigs) and begin field work
- Agricultural work: Horses and oxen were used for heavy tasks like pulling ploughs
- Food processing: The village mill processed grain into flour for the entire community
- Evening: Animals were brought back to barns attached to peasant houses
- Social structure: The lord would oversee operations from the stone manor house while peasants lived in timber dwellings
The village served as an agricultural centre where people worked the surrounding land. Archaeological evidence reveals that villagers kept sheep, cows, and pigs, while remains of horses and oxen suggest these animals were used for heavy work like pulling ploughs to cultivate the fields. This mixed farming approach was typical of Norman villages and provided both food security and economic stability.
The presence of a mill in the village plan shows how communities were becoming more self-sufficient, with specialised buildings for processing grain into flour - a vital service for the entire settlement.
Structure and social hierarchy
The village layout clearly reflects the social structure of Norman England. Two manor houses dominated the settlement, with one being built around 1254 when the Percy family constructed themselves a new residence. This demonstrates how Norman lords invested in improving their living conditions and reinforcing their status within the community.
Understanding Norman Social Hierarchy through Architecture:
The building materials at Wharram Percy reveal the rigid social divisions of Norman society:
- Stone buildings (manor houses and church) = High status, wealth, permanence
- Timber buildings (peasant houses and outbuildings) = Lower status, limited resources, temporary nature
This architectural divide was deliberate and served to constantly remind villagers of their place in the social order.
The village plan shows peasant houses and barns clustered together, designed for storing grain, hay, and sheltering animals. This layout promoted community cooperation while keeping agricultural resources close to people's homes.
Change and continuity over time
Wharram Percy experienced significant changes during the Norman period. The construction of the new manor house around 1254 represents how Norman families established their permanent presence in English villages, replacing or supplementing earlier Saxon structures with more impressive buildings that demonstrated their authority.
The rebuilding of the manor house in 1254 occurred nearly 200 years after the Norman Conquest, showing how Norman families continued to invest in and develop their English properties long after the initial conquest period.
However, the most dramatic change came much later. The village was deserted in the early 16th century when residents were evicted to make room for sheep pasture. This reflects broader economic changes in England, where landowners found sheep farming more profitable than maintaining agricultural villages with their traditional mixed farming systems.
Historical significance
Wharram Percy provides crucial evidence for understanding how Norman conquest affected ordinary English communities. The site shows how Norman lords took control of existing settlements, improved the buildings that served their needs (manor houses and churches), while maintaining traditional peasant housing and agricultural practices.
The archaeological evidence demonstrates both continuity and change - the basic function of the village as an agricultural community remained the same, but the Norman period brought new social structures, building styles, and land ownership patterns that would shape English rural life for centuries.
Studies show that Wharram Percy is one of over 3,000 deserted mediaeval villages in England, making it representative of a much broader pattern of rural settlement and abandonment across the country.
Timeline of key events
- 850-950 CE: Village probably founded during Anglo-Saxon period
- 1066: Norman Conquest brings new landowners to English villages
- 10th-12th centuries: Wharram Percy experiences significant growth under Norman rule
- c.1254: Percy family builds new manor house, demonstrating Norman investment in the settlement
- Early 16th century: Village deserted as residents evicted for sheep farming
Key Points to Remember:
- Wharram Percy demonstrates how Norman lords took control of existing English villages while maintaining their basic agricultural functions
- The contrast between stone buildings (manor houses and church) and timber peasant houses clearly shows the social hierarchy of Norman society
- Archaeological evidence reveals a mixed farming economy with sheep, cattle, pigs, and draught animals supporting the village community
- The village's growth between the 10th-12th centuries reflects the stability and economic development that Norman rule brought to rural England
- The eventual desertion of the village in the 16th century shows how economic changes could dramatically alter rural communities that had existed for centuries