Doddington shrunken medieval village (Doddington)
Centred NT 99803225. Remains of probable village shrinkage found during field investigation. The main feature is a broad hollow way crossing an area of hummocky ground bordered on the south by rig and furrow. Foundations of a building occur at NT 99873225 though these may be modern. Surveyed at 1:2500. (1)
Apart from the hollow way, most of the ground disturbance borders the modern road, and is probably caused by traffic deviations prior to the construction of the road. The hollow way is undoubtly an access road of the same period, leading to Doddington village. (2)
Doddington was a member of the barony of Alnwick. 1262/3: a capital messuage with a demesne of 24 bovates of land, 28 bondages, 16 cottagers, a free tenant. 1296: 30 taxpayers. 1377: 168 adults listed.
Hearth Tax 1665: 59 householders. 1693: 10 tenants, a demesne tenant. 1722: eight tenancies, 25 cottars. By 1759 the farms amalgamated into two large farms, with five small holdings remaining. 18th century described as 'a large village with a chapel of ease' by Warburton.
Armstrong's map of 1769 shows a large village set around a square. The Tithe Map shows two farms in the village - North and South.
The village suffered depopulation in the later 19th and 20th centuries. The old square plan can still be traced on the south side. Three areas of abandonment,
i) NT 999324, a paddock east of the main road with possible house platforms;
ii) NT 997322, slight earthworks to the south of the road to the chapel, delimited by a bank with ridge and furrow beyond;
iii) NT 996323 to the west of the village.
The area NT 997322 may represent pre-19th century depopulation. (3)
The village underwent a settlement shift during the mid-18th century when the focus moved from the church north-eastwards to centre on Doddington North and South Farms.
Survey by S Speak of Tyne and Wear Museums in February 1993 concentrated on fields to the south-west of the village, centred at NT 99653235 and NT 99753235. Hollow ways and house platforms were recognised, probably medieval in origin. Settlement remains represented by:
i) NT 99873225 - broad hollow way with ridge and furrow and house platforms. Hollow way leads into Doddington village;
ii) NT 999324 - house platforms;
iii) NT 996323 - platforms and possible well or fountain head;
iv) NT 997322 - earthworks, headland boundary and ridge and furrow, possibly associated with depopulation before the 19th century. (4)
Apart from the hollow way, most of the ground disturbance borders the modern road, and is probably caused by traffic deviations prior to the construction of the road. The hollow way is undoubtly an access road of the same period, leading to Doddington village. (2)
Doddington was a member of the barony of Alnwick. 1262/3: a capital messuage with a demesne of 24 bovates of land, 28 bondages, 16 cottagers, a free tenant. 1296: 30 taxpayers. 1377: 168 adults listed.
Hearth Tax 1665: 59 householders. 1693: 10 tenants, a demesne tenant. 1722: eight tenancies, 25 cottars. By 1759 the farms amalgamated into two large farms, with five small holdings remaining. 18th century described as 'a large village with a chapel of ease' by Warburton.
Armstrong's map of 1769 shows a large village set around a square. The Tithe Map shows two farms in the village - North and South.
The village suffered depopulation in the later 19th and 20th centuries. The old square plan can still be traced on the south side. Three areas of abandonment,
i) NT 999324, a paddock east of the main road with possible house platforms;
ii) NT 997322, slight earthworks to the south of the road to the chapel, delimited by a bank with ridge and furrow beyond;
iii) NT 996323 to the west of the village.
The area NT 997322 may represent pre-19th century depopulation. (3)
The village underwent a settlement shift during the mid-18th century when the focus moved from the church north-eastwards to centre on Doddington North and South Farms.
Survey by S Speak of Tyne and Wear Museums in February 1993 concentrated on fields to the south-west of the village, centred at NT 99653235 and NT 99753235. Hollow ways and house platforms were recognised, probably medieval in origin. Settlement remains represented by:
i) NT 99873225 - broad hollow way with ridge and furrow and house platforms. Hollow way leads into Doddington village;
ii) NT 999324 - house platforms;
iii) NT 996323 - platforms and possible well or fountain head;
iv) NT 997322 - earthworks, headland boundary and ridge and furrow, possibly associated with depopulation before the 19th century. (4)
N2142
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1964; R D Loader
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1967; E C Waight
EVALUATION, West Doddington 1993; Tyne and Wear Museums
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1967; E C Waight
EVALUATION, West Doddington 1993; Tyne and Wear Museums
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