What Was Daily Life Like For A Medieval Peasant? | Time Team | Chronicle

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23:59:59

Overview

This documentary explores the daily life of medieval peasants in Britain by examining the archaeological remains of deserted medieval villages. It focuses on the village of Ulnaby in County Durham, considered the best-preserved medieval village in Britain. The Time Team archaeologists use geophysical surveys, excavation, and documentary evidence to piece together the history of the village, its layout, and the lives of its inhabitants. The documentary also touches upon other deserted villages like Wicken and Nether Poppleton, highlighting the common factors that led to their abandonment.

The Lost Village of Ulnaby
- 🗺️
  The documentary starts by introducing Ulnaby, a deserted medieval village in County Durham, England. The site is notable for its well-preserved earthworks, which reveal the layout of houses, streets, and gardens.
- ⛏️
  Time Team archaeologists, led by Mick Aston and Stewart Ainsworth, aim to uncover the history of Ulnaby and the daily lives of its medieval peasant inhabitants. They plan to excavate several house plots and analyze the finds to understand the village's origins, development, and eventual desertion.
- 📜
  Documentary research provides some clues about Ulnaby. The place name suggests a Norse origin, possibly dating back to the 9th or 10th century. A reference from 1198 mentions a manor at Ulnaby, indicating the presence of a lord and potentially a village.
- 🛖
  Geophysical surveys reveal the presence of numerous structures, including houses, yards, and rubbish pits. The archaeologists believe the village developed in phases, with earlier structures being replaced or modified over time.
- 🧱
  Excavations uncover stone walls, floors, and artifacts like pottery and animal bones, providing insights into the construction of houses and the daily lives of the villagers. The finds suggest that the villagers lived in simple dwellings, likely combined with animal shelters, and relied heavily on agriculture.
- 🪦
  The discovery of a 14th-century knife blade and associated pottery in one of the houses provides a firm date for the village's occupation. This period coincides with the arrival of the Black Death in Britain, raising the possibility that the village was abandoned due to the plague.
- 🌱
  However, further investigation reveals evidence of continued occupation into the 16th and 17th centuries, suggesting that the Black Death did not lead to the immediate desertion of Ulnaby. Documents from the 16th century mention villagers involved in the Rising of the North, indicating a still-active community.
- 🧑‍🌾
  The documentary highlights the role of changing agricultural practices in the decline of many medieval villages. The shift from arable farming to sheep and cattle rearing reduced the need for a large labor force, leading to evictions and gradual abandonment.
- ❓
  The exact reasons for Ulnaby's eventual desertion remain unclear, but the documentary suggests a combination of factors, including changing economic conditions and a gradual decline in population.
Other Deserted Villages
- ⛪
  The documentary briefly explores two other deserted medieval villages: Wicken in Northamptonshire and Nether Poppleton near York.
- 🏘️
  Wicken was once two separate villages, Wick De and Wick Hammond, divided by a stream. Archaeological investigations reveal evidence of Saxon origins for Wick Hammond, with a possible early church and burial ground. Wick De appears to have developed later, with significant occupation in the medieval period.
- 🏰
  Nether Poppleton boasts a well-preserved medieval village layout with a Norman church dedicated to St. Everilda, a 7th-century saint. The documentary explores the possibility of a Saxon monastery associated with St. Everilda predating the Norman church.
- 🪦
  Excavations near the church uncover a Saxon ditch and pottery, providing evidence of early occupation. The documentary suggests that the ditch may have enclosed a monastic settlement, with the later church built on the site of a former monastic church.
- 👑
  The documentary concludes by emphasizing the long and complex history of these villages, highlighting the continuity of settlement from the Saxon period through to the modern era.

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Install Briefy

Key moments

Lost Village of Ulnaby
Introduction to Ulnaby Hall Farm and the deserted village.
Discussion of the earliest documentary references to Ulnaby.
Excavation of the first trench, revealing stone walls instead of the expected turf.
Discussion of the layout of the village and the possibility of different phases of development.
Examination of documents that shed light on the agricultural lifestyle of the villagers.
Discovery of a hollow way that suggests the village extended into the next field.
Excavation of three trenches, aiming to reveal the history of the village from beginning to end.
Discovery of slag, suggesting industrial activity in the village.
Introduction of the Luttrell Psalter, a 14th-century manuscript that provides insights into medieval peasant life.
Discovery of a medieval knife blade, dating the village back to the 1200s.
Discussion of the Black Death and its potential impact on the village.
Analysis of animal bones, revealing details about the villagers' diet.
Experiment with a replica medieval plow to understand agricultural practices.
Analysis of pottery from across the site to chart the story of the village.
Excavation of a 14th-century house, revealing its layout and features.
Discussion of the eventual decline of the village in the 17th century.
Lost Villages of Wicken
Introduction to the village of Wicken in Northamptonshire, which once consisted of two separate villages, Wick De and Wick Hammond.
Discussion of the research dig already underway by Cardiff and Leicester Universities.
Excavation of the first trench in Wick De, searching for its origins.
Search for a medieval church in Wick Hammond.
Discussion of the meaning of the village names and their possible Saxon origins.
Discussion of the role of the church in medieval and Saxon society.
Discovery of a 10th-century ditch in Wick De, providing evidence of Saxon settlement.
Discovery of a medieval shepherd's pie dish in Wick De.
Discovery of medieval spectacle rims in Wick Hammond.
Discovery of a burial underneath the wall of the church in Wick Hammond, potentially dating back to the Saxon period.
Discussion of the layout of the two medieval villages and the lifestyle of the Lord of the manor.
Discovery of lost roads and buildings in the rectory gardens of Wick De.
Discovery of Maxey Ware pottery in Wick Hammond, dating back to 650-750 AD.
Discussion of the meaning of the word "Wick" and its connection to Roman settlements.
Conclusion: Wick Hammond is likely the older of the two villages, with evidence of Saxon settlement dating back to the 7th century.
Lost Village of Nether Poppleton
Introduction to the village of Nether Poppleton, near York, and its potential Norman or Saxon origins.
Discussion of the test pit strategy to be used in the village.
Survey of the church and surrounding area, including a medieval moated site.
Discussion of St. Everilda, the church's dedication, and the possibility of a Saxon nunnery on the site.
Analysis of pottery finds from the test pits, revealing a concentration of Saxon material at the west end of the village.
Discussion of the pottery sequence, showing occupation from the Roman period to the medieval period.
Discovery of a Tudor mansion, previously unknown.
Discussion of the layout and features of the Tudor house.
Reconstruction of the Tudor house, showing its dominance in the landscape.
Conclusion: Evidence suggests a Saxon monastic settlement around the church, with the village expanding in Norman and medieval times. The discovery of the Tudor mansion adds a surprising layer to the village's history.