More information : TF 057958 Deserted settlement of Cauthorpe, first referred to in the
early 13th century, still had 6 households in 1563, which must have
occupied a substantial part of the remains: no earlier or later
population indicator is available. The site occupied the field named
Cauthorpe Close (1796) and survives largely as earthworks, with only
the E extremity destroyed. The layout appears to be similar to
Beasthorpe (TF 09 NW 15) in comprising a 2-row arrangement dependent
on an E-W hollow way. The S row is made up of rather narrow closes
or properties in contrast to the short broad ones of the N row.
(1-2)
The earthworks described by authorities 1-2 were visible and mapped
from good quality air photographs. The remains at Cauthorpe, form
part of an extensive Medieval and Post-Medieval linear settlement,
extending N-S over approximately 3.5kms. Documentary research,
suggests that at least nine separate nuclei existed, forming a
polyfocal layout (2). To the NW of Cauthorpe, lies the village of
Thornton le Moor (TF 09 NE 16) and hamlet of Beesthorpe
(TF 09 NW 15). To the south lies extensive remains of Owersby,
representing more of these settlement nuclei (see TF 09 NE 18
& TF 09 SE 40).
The main elements of the settlement, centred at TF 0568 9582, are
an E-W hollow way, flanked by a group of conjoined, rectangular,
ditched enclosures, on average 90m by 30m, interpreted as crofts.
(Morph No. LI.504.3.1)
This description is based on data from the RCHME MORPH2 database. (3) |