Clopton, Cambridgeshire
Encyclopedia
Clopton is a deserted medieval village
(DMV) about 1 miles (1.6 km) south west of Croydon
that once stood on a prominent ridge overlooking the countryside of Cambridgeshire
, England
. Its history reaches back to the Roman occupation, and an Anglo-Saxon village, covering approximately 30 acres (12.1 ha) was established by the 10th century.
The village is referenced to in the 1086 Domesday Book
, when 18 peasants were noted as inhabiting it. A Friday market was granted in 1292 to Robert Hoo, Lord of Clopton.
It is believed that the village was deserted in the early 16th Century between 1500 and 1518 after John Fisher, a London lawyer, had purchased the land from the Clopton family in 1489. He then evicted the villagers to create enclosure
s.
Archaeologists have located the site for the parish church of Saint Mary, two moated sites, and a probable mill. The church is recorded in poor repair by 1561, which is when it appears that Clopton became amalgamated with neighbouring Croydon
to its east. The church was subsequently demolished and turned over to agriculture by 1660.
The site is now a Scheduled Ancient Monument
and consists of earthworks.
Deserted medieval village
In the United Kingdom, a deserted medieval village is a former settlement which was abandoned during the Middle Ages, typically leaving no trace apart from earthworks or cropmarks. If there are fewer than three inhabited houses the convention is to regard the site as deserted; if there are more...
(DMV) about 1 miles (1.6 km) south west of Croydon
Croydon, Cambridgeshire
Croydon is a village and civil parish in South Cambridgeshire, England. It is south-west of Cambridge and immediately west of the A1198 road . The population in 2001 was 221 people...
that once stood on a prominent ridge overlooking the countryside of Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west...
, England
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...
. Its history reaches back to the Roman occupation, and an Anglo-Saxon village, covering approximately 30 acres (12.1 ha) was established by the 10th century.
The village is referenced to in the 1086 Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
, when 18 peasants were noted as inhabiting it. A Friday market was granted in 1292 to Robert Hoo, Lord of Clopton.
It is believed that the village was deserted in the early 16th Century between 1500 and 1518 after John Fisher, a London lawyer, had purchased the land from the Clopton family in 1489. He then evicted the villagers to create 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...
s.
Archaeologists have located the site for the parish church of Saint Mary, two moated sites, and a probable mill. The church is recorded in poor repair by 1561, which is when it appears that Clopton became amalgamated with neighbouring Croydon
Croydon, Cambridgeshire
Croydon is a village and civil parish in South Cambridgeshire, England. It is south-west of Cambridge and immediately west of the A1198 road . The population in 2001 was 221 people...
to its east. The church was subsequently demolished and turned over to agriculture by 1660.
The site is now a Scheduled Ancient Monument
Scheduled Ancient Monument
In the United Kingdom, a scheduled monument is a 'nationally important' archaeological site or historic building, given protection against unauthorized change. The various pieces of legislation used for legally protecting heritage assets from damage and destruction are grouped under the term...
and consists of earthworks.