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Church Charwelton (lost settlement)
Encyclopedia
The lost village of Church Charwelton lies south-east of the village
of Charwelton
in the English
county of Northamptonshire
. Its site is on the north-east bank of the River Cherwell
. The Jurassic Way
long-distance footpath passes across the site.
but in fact it is far more likely that the settlement's depopulation was due to enclosure
and the introduction of sheep. The land was purchased by Thomas Andrews in 1417 and by the year 1547 records show that Thomas Andrew’s grandson, also Thomas, kept 1,200 sheep on the site of the settlement. Another part was owned by the Knightley family of Fawsley
who also kept 300 sheep on the land. It is recorded that the whole site had been abandoned by 1847. The parish church of Charwelton still stands in the vicinity of the lost settlement and is isolated from today's village of Charwelton.
can be seen to the south and south-east side of the parish church
. The most noticeable feature is a hollow way
that runs from north to south from the river Cherwell up to the west of the church. On either side of this hollow way can be made out closes but most have been damaged by later agricultural activities. At the north end of the hollow way the definite site of a dwelling can be made out. There are also several remains of medieval ponds which can be distinguished around the site.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
of Charwelton
Charwelton
Charwelton is a village and civil parish about south of Daventry in Northamptonshire, England. Its toponym is derived from the River Cherwell beside which the village stands....
in the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
county of Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
. Its site is on the north-east bank of the River Cherwell
River Cherwell
The River Cherwell is a river which flows through the Midlands of England. It is a major tributary of the River Thames.The general course of the River Cherwell is north to south and the 'straight-line' distance from its source to the Thames is about...
. The Jurassic Way
Jurassic Way
The Jurassic Way is a designated and signed long-distance footpath that connects the Oxfordshire town of Banbury with the Lincolnshire town of Stamford in England...
long-distance footpath passes across the site.
History
It has been supposed that Church Charwelton was deserted in the 15th century at the time of the Wars of the RosesWars of the Roses
The Wars of the Roses were a series of dynastic civil wars for the throne of England fought between supporters of two rival branches of the royal House of Plantagenet: the houses of Lancaster and York...
but in fact it is far more likely that the settlement's depopulation was due to enclosure
Enclosure
Enclosure or inclosure is the process which ends traditional rights such as mowing meadows for hay, or grazing livestock on common land. Once enclosed, these uses of the land become restricted to the owner, and it ceases to be common land. In England and Wales the term is also used for the...
and the introduction of sheep. The land was purchased by Thomas Andrews in 1417 and by the year 1547 records show that Thomas Andrew’s grandson, also Thomas, kept 1,200 sheep on the site of the settlement. Another part was owned by the Knightley family of Fawsley
Fawsley
Fawsley is a hamlet and civil parish in the Daventry district of the county of Northamptonshire, England. The population at the 2001 census was 32....
who also kept 300 sheep on the land. It is recorded that the whole site had been abandoned by 1847. The parish church of Charwelton still stands in the vicinity of the lost settlement and is isolated from today's village of Charwelton.
The Site
The earthwork remainsEarthworks (archaeology)
In archaeology, earthwork is a general term to describe artificial changes in land level. Earthworks are often known colloquially as 'lumps and bumps'. Earthworks can themselves be archaeological features or they can show features beneath the surface...
can be seen to the south and south-east side of the parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
. The most noticeable feature is a hollow way
Sunken lane
A sunken lane is a road which has over time fallen significantly lower than the land on either side. They are created incrementally by erosion, by water and traffic...
that runs from north to south from the river Cherwell up to the west of the church. On either side of this hollow way can be made out closes but most have been damaged by later agricultural activities. At the north end of the hollow way the definite site of a dwelling can be made out. There are also several remains of medieval ponds which can be distinguished around the site.