More information : (SE 966656) Cowlam Village (NR) (site of) (NAT) (1)
DMV of Cowlam mentioned in Domesday and the 1801 census when 17
people were accounted for. The relief of 1354 might indicate a
genuine Black Death depopulation of the village. In 1735, the church
steeple was pulled down; the present church dates from 1819. (2)
Rescue excavations in advance of ploughing were made in 1971-72
on the site of Cowlam DMV. A croft with two 17th century house sites
(one being a farmstead) were totally excavated, four other
outbuildings, an enclosed yard, shallow cellar, storage pit and a
section across the yard were also excavated, finds included 13th
c Staxton ware, 17th c pottery, iron and bronze objects, a coin of
Elizabeth (1578) and two Charles II farthings (c 1679). (3)(4)
The remains of Cowlam are enclosed on the NW, N and E by a much
spread turf covered stony bank. The remains of two sunken roads
crossing the village from E to W and N to S are still evident. In
the NW quadrant formed by these roads a few building stones and
rectangular enclosures can be seen as amorphous hollows and platforms
(most too ill-defined to warrant survey) and fields divided by walls
and lynchets all heavily turfed. The remainder of the village to
the S has been destroyed by ploughing. Ridge and furrow is evident
outside the village in the N. Published survey (25") Revised. (5)
Cowlam Deserted Medieval Village. Possible depopulation here at the time of the sheep-enclosures elsewhere on the Wolds. In 1783 much of the manor of Cowlam consisted of rabbit warrens. By 1844 the warrens were destroyed and much of the land was under plough. (6)
Site de-scheduled in 1977. (7)
Excavation report. (8)
On air photographs taken in 1997 the Medieval village remains of Cowlam appear to have been more or less completely ploughed level, however, they are still visible as cropmarks. (9-9a) |