(NZ 01907000) Deserted medieval village of Clarewood (site of) (T.I). (1)

Depopulated village at Clarewood. (2)

Map shows Clarewood as row of cottages lying east-west with gardens to the south, approx on the site of Clarewood East and West farms. (3)

Visible on aerial photographs. (4)

The remains consist of the perimeter banks to the village and building steadings in the vicinity of West Clarewood. Surveyed 1:2500. (5)

Condition unchanged. (6)

Clarewood was one of the manors in the lordship of Halton, held in thegnage by the Halton family. Provided five taxpayers in 1296. The whole lordship was devastated by the Scots in 1385. In 1538 the township provided 11 men for the muster. The Hearth Tax of 1666 recorded nine households. The village was largely depopulated, the fields and commons were subdivided and farming units reorganised in the forty years after 1677.
After improvement of the land the township was divided into two farms - East and West Clarewood. In the mid-19th century a third holding was created (South Farm). Since then the West Farm has been abolished and its lands divided between the other holdings.
Ridge and furrow and boundary banks are visible in several of the surrounding fields. The 1677 boundary between Pontacres and East Field is visible to the north east of the steadings; and south of them, on both sides of the present road, are banks which indicate the West and East Field boundaries. The area between them represents a driftway for cattle. The banks survive to a height of c.1.5m. (7)

Medieval boundary banks, platforms and enclosures are visible as earthworks on air photographs centred at NZ 0198 7000. The medieval settlement of Clarewood comprises a system of broad boundary banks defining the limits of the settlement. Beyond these medieval ridge and furrow is still extant. Within the settlement a number of platforms can be seen which may represent crofts. At least two enclosures are also visible. The remains are extant on the latest 1992 oblique photography. (8)