(Centred NZ 036839) Minor depopulation. (1)

A small coherent complex of minor depopulation consisting of turf-covered steading and associated crofts. Surveyed at 1/2500. (2)

Deanham was a member of the lordship of Bolam. Twelve people contributed to the Subsidy of 1296. The Poll Tax returns of 1377 probably record 19 adults.
Extensive depopulation by the mid-17th century. Only four houses were recorded in the township in the 1666 Hearth Tax, at least one was New Deanham (established before 1625). Deanham was in two farms by 1716 (East and West). Armstrong's map of 1769 records two farms - High Deanham and Deanham. Deanham was on the site of the village and has disappeared since 1841; High Deanham is now called 'Old Deanham'.
The site of the village comprises a distinct row of earthworks running east-west. It contains c.10 steadings. The building sites are clear but the tofts are not. No sign of a second row of holdings. There is a horseshoe-shaped enclosure at the east end, surrounded by a ha-ha, containing earthworks in its southern half. Possible position of the manor house prior to the building of New Deanham Hall in 1670, or the site of a farmstead occupied until the mid-19th century. (3)

NZ 034838 to NZ 044841 comprises an extensive system of ridge and furrow, running in all directions, houses and associated remains. At south west end of site is a flag-lined pond, probably contemporary. Village known locally as 'Old Cambo'. (4)

Old Deanham village. The site stretches from NZ03408380 to NZ 03858410 and is located on top of a slight ridge above the River Wansbeck. It is surrounded on the north, west and east sides by ridge and furrow cultivation. To the south the field is later, narrow ridge and furrow. The village is of a linear type and mostly a single row of houses. The raised elliptical feature at the east end is thought to have been the site of a wood, the farmer recalls tree stumps present across this feature earlier this century.
An extensive survey in 1991-2 recorded both the buildings and surrounding field systems. From this survey the interpretation of several structures are offered. The largest building, centrally placed, is probably a stell, with the remains of a rectangular building to the south west and possible pens to the south. The buildings to the west of this structure are fragmentary. This western area is characterised by regularly spaced earthworks aligned north-south, some of which are stone faced banks or walls; they terminate at a broad earthwork forming a division between ridge and furrow cultivation and localised land holdings. To the north and east of the central stell is an area of paddocks, scoops and fields and a possible village entrance with a rubbing stone. The buildings east of the stell are better preserved than elsewhere with walls up to 1m thick and 1m high. The buildings generally appear as long terraces, some with yards between and are located on an elevated piece of land. (5)