NZ 320 763. Deserted medieval village at Seaton Delaval. (1)

Nothing visible on available aerial photographs (RAF 1958). (2)

Seaton Delaval is a small hamlet consisting of a hall, two farms and a number of dwelling houses. There is no visible evidence of depopulation either on aerial photographs (RAF 1958) or on the ground. (3)

The township of Delaval has been held by the Delaval family and their descendants since the 12th century. In the 13th century it was one of the largest vills in southern Northumberland. An IPM of 1297 recorded a manor house, 24 bondages and 30 cottages. Twenty of the cottages were waste by 1353. This shrinkage was permanent. In 1519 the township contained 12 tenements and five cottages.
A series of house rentals of the early 18th century indicate depopulation of the village. In 1716 there were 13 houses in the village; in 1720 ten houses were occupied, three vacant and three fallen/taken down. Only seven houses remained by 1739. Caused by the building of Seaton Delaval Hall (1718-29) and the creation of its parkland.
It is likely that the village stood on the west side of the hall, running towards the present Seaton Village Farm. No earthworks visible. (4)

NZ 320 763. Seaton Delaval deserted medieval village. (5)

Earthworks of a deserted medieval village identified at NZ 327 759 on 1994 aerial photographs by S Speak. (6)

A series of earthworks are visible on an aerial photograph at NZ 3256 7577. (Probably the same as above (6)). (7)

The old village of Seaton Delaval, which lay close to the church, disappeared gradually some time after 1311. By 1628 there were no remaining houses, but there was a flock of 1300 sheep. (8)

The series of earthworks have been seen during an archaeological survey carried out of Seaton Delaval Hall by Archaeological Services Durham University in 2011. The banks have been seen on the ground and recorded in a fair condition, but appear to be irregular. (9)

Although oblique air photos taken in 1994 do appear to show earthworks in this area it should be noted that this area was being used as a storage for spoil (probably from a nearby colliery) on verticals taken in 1964. The lidar data indicates that the ground level in the field is now slightly higher than the fields to the north, east and south but it is possible that the ground level had been truncated as part of its preparation to take the spoil. Thus the earthworks observed above do not represent any archaeological remains but rather are the result of this spoil tipping, or subsequent relandscaping. (10) (11) (12)

General association with HER 31995. (13)