Nucleated village
Encyclopedia
A nucleated village is one of the main types of settlement pattern found in England and other parts of the world. It is one of the terms used by landscape historians
to classify settlements. An idealised village, in which the houses cluster around a central church which is often close to the village green
is a nucleated village. One example of a nucleated village is Shapwick in Somerset
, which has been extensively investigated by Professor Mick Aston
. A nucleated village contrasts with a dispersed settlement
.
One particular sub-category of nucleated villages is a planned village. These were deliberately established by land owners at various times, but particularly during the late medieval period. They often consist of two rows of houses set on equal sized plots of land - burgage plots. At the opposite end of the burgage plot there is often a back lane
which gives the original village a regular layout which can still be seen today. Planned villages were usually associated with markets, from which the landowner expected to make profits.
In some cases two adjacent nucleated villages may expand and merge to form a polyfocal settlement. This settlement category was identified and studied by Christopher Taylor.
Many nucleated villages originated in the Saxon period, but W. G. Hoskins
discredits a previously held view that uniquely associated nucleated villages with the Saxons.
In England, nucleated settlements are often found in the central region where open field farming predominated. In this region, the village was typically surrounded by two (or three) large fields in which villagers had individual strips - see open field system
. Various explanations have been offered as to the reason for this form of settlement including the ethnic origin of the Anglo-Saxon settlers, density of population and the influence of local lords of the manor
. Dr Tom Williamson of the University of East Anglia has argued that the best explanation is the combination of soil quality and climate which leads to differences in agricultural techniques for exploiting local conditions.
In central Europe, nucleated villages emerged as smaller settlements and farmsteads grew together with growing population. These villages generally have an irregular shape but are roughly circular around a central place and/or church.
Landscape history
Landscape history is the study of the way in which humanity has changed the physical appearance of the environment - both present and past. It is sometimes referred to as landscape archaeology...
to classify settlements. An idealised village, in which the houses cluster around a central church which is often close to the village green
Village green
A village green is a common open area which is a part of a settlement. Traditionally, such an area was often common grass land at the centre of a small agricultural settlement, used for grazing and sometimes for community events...
is a nucleated village. One example of a nucleated village is Shapwick in Somerset
Shapwick, Somerset
Shapwick is a village on the Somerset Levels, in the Sedgemoor district of Somerset, England. It is situated to the west of Glastonbury.-History:Shapwick is the site of one end of the Sweet Track, an ancient causeway dating from the 39th century BC....
, which has been extensively investigated by Professor Mick Aston
Mick Aston
Professor Michael Antony 'Mick' Aston is a prominent English archaeologist. As an academic, he has taught at a number of universities across the United Kingdom, and has helped popularise the discipline amongst the British public by appearing as the resident academic on the Channel 4 television...
. A nucleated village contrasts with a dispersed settlement
Dispersed settlement
A dispersed settlement is one of the main types of settlement patterns used by landscape historians to classify rural settlements found in England and other parts of the world....
.
One particular sub-category of nucleated villages is a planned village. These were deliberately established by land owners at various times, but particularly during the late medieval period. They often consist of two rows of houses set on equal sized plots of land - burgage plots. At the opposite end of the burgage plot there is often a back lane
Back lane
A back lane is a roadway often found in a planned medieval village running parallel to the main street at the other end of the Burgage plots. There may be a back lane on each side of the main street which together with the main street itself provide a rectangular framework for the development of...
which gives the original village a regular layout which can still be seen today. Planned villages were usually associated with markets, from which the landowner expected to make profits.
In some cases two adjacent nucleated villages may expand and merge to form a polyfocal settlement. This settlement category was identified and studied by Christopher Taylor.
Many nucleated villages originated in the Saxon period, but W. G. Hoskins
W. G. Hoskins
William George Hoskins CBE FSA was a British local historian who founded the first university department of English Local History. His great contribution to the study of history was in the field of landscape history...
discredits a previously held view that uniquely associated nucleated villages with the Saxons.
In England, nucleated settlements are often found in the central region where open field farming predominated. In this region, the village was typically surrounded by two (or three) large fields in which villagers had individual strips - see open field system
Open field system
The open field system was the prevalent agricultural system in much of Europe from the Middle Ages to as recently as the 20th century in some places, particularly Russia and Iran. Under this system, each manor or village had several very large fields, farmed in strips by individual families...
. Various explanations have been offered as to the reason for this form of settlement including the ethnic origin of the Anglo-Saxon settlers, density of population and the influence of local lords of the manor
Manor
-Land tenure:*Manor, an estate in land of the mediaeval era in England*Manorialism, a system of land tenure and organization of the rural economy and society in parts of medieval Europe based on the manor*Manor house, the principal house of a manor...
. Dr Tom Williamson of the University of East Anglia has argued that the best explanation is the combination of soil quality and climate which leads to differences in agricultural techniques for exploiting local conditions.
In central Europe, nucleated villages emerged as smaller settlements and farmsteads grew together with growing population. These villages generally have an irregular shape but are roughly circular around a central place and/or church.