Mitford shrunken medieval village (Mitford)
NZ 170858. Deserted medieval village at Mitford. Nothing visible on available aerial photographs (RAF 1958). (1)
The hamlet of Mitford prior to recent development consisted of a Hall, Manor House, two farms and a few dwellings. There is no visible evidence of depopulation which was probably caused by shrinkage rather than desertion. (2)
Mitford was a market borough in the 13th century, the centre of a barony and a parish. The 1296 Lay Subsidy listed 20 taxpayers. In 1323 the borough was waste, having been destroyed by the Scots. In 1326 John de Eure was said to have held 20 burgages there of the lord. By 1437 Mitford had been acquired by the Mitford family and contained a capital messuage and 28 other houses. The last record of burgage holdings was in 1459.
There is no evidence Mitford retained borough status after the end of the Middle Ages. There seems to have been a dramatic, though temporary, depopulation in the 16th century. In 1535 a certificate recorded that of 14 tenements listed there in 1535 all had 'decayed'. The 1666 Hearth Tax recorded 19 houses in the township. Armstrong's map of 1769 showed about six tenements - this settlement has survived. Mitford is possibly an early example of emparking. (3)
The hamlet of Mitford prior to recent development consisted of a Hall, Manor House, two farms and a few dwellings. There is no visible evidence of depopulation which was probably caused by shrinkage rather than desertion. (2)
Mitford was a market borough in the 13th century, the centre of a barony and a parish. The 1296 Lay Subsidy listed 20 taxpayers. In 1323 the borough was waste, having been destroyed by the Scots. In 1326 John de Eure was said to have held 20 burgages there of the lord. By 1437 Mitford had been acquired by the Mitford family and contained a capital messuage and 28 other houses. The last record of burgage holdings was in 1459.
There is no evidence Mitford retained borough status after the end of the Middle Ages. There seems to have been a dramatic, though temporary, depopulation in the 16th century. In 1535 a certificate recorded that of 14 tenements listed there in 1535 all had 'decayed'. The 1666 Hearth Tax recorded 19 houses in the township. Armstrong's map of 1769 showed about six tenements - this settlement has survived. Mitford is possibly an early example of emparking. (3)
N11065
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1971; B H Pritchard
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