This list of lost settlements in the United Kingdom includes deserted medieval villages (DMVs), shrunken villages, abandoned villages and other settlements known to have been lost, depopulated or significantly reduced in size over the centuries. There are estimated to be as many as 3,000 DMVs in England. Grid references are given, where known.
Morwellham Quay – A port upstream from New Quay that was partially abandoned after the closure of most of the local mines in the early 20th century, now an open-air museum.
Sutreworde, mentioned in the Domesday book, but abandoned in favour of nearby Lustleigh
Maryland, on Brownsea Island—The village was originally created to serve an unsuccessful pottery business. Its inhabitants were ultimately expelled by the island's owner.
Andreskirk SK392222 Deserted Medieval Village in Breedon on the Hill, located to its west
Atterton SP353983 Deserted Medieval Village
Baggrave SK697088 Deserted Medieval Village in Hungarton
Beacon Hill SK513146 Lost place in Woodhouse Eaves, site of an Iron Age hill fort, perhaps a lookout over the Soar valley for the Corieltauvi tribe
Beckingthorpe SK808394 Lost place in Bottesford, recorded as Beclintorp about 1300[22]
Berehill SK587046 Lost place in St Margaret's Field, recorded as le Berehil in 1260, it lay outside the East Gate of Leicester, forming part of the east suburb and subsequently was named the Haymarket[24]
Bescaby SK823623 Deserted Medieval Village
Bigging, Lost place in Leicester, recorded as le Bigginge in 1323, it was a group of buildings close to the abbey of St Mary de Pratis, perhaps near SK580062[24]
Bishop's Fee SK505051 Lost Place in St Margaret's Field Leicester, recorded as feodo Episcopi in 1336 and called The Suburb in Domesday, it was the property of the Bishop of Lincoln and included St Margaret's Field[24]
Bittesby Deserted Medieval Village, perhaps formed out of a larger, earlier parish centred on a former Romano-British settlement at Duninc Wicon that also included Ullesthorpe as an outlying settlement[25]
Bradley SP823954 Lost place in Nevill Holt, recorded as Bradel in the 12th century, and the site of an Augustinian Priory from about 1200[26]
Brascote SK443025 Deserted Medieval Village in Newbold Verdon
Brentingby SK784198 Deserted Medieval Village
Bromkinsthorpe SK560040 Lost place in St Mary's Field Leicester, now Braunstone Gate
Brooksby SK670160 Deserted Medieval Village
Bulwarks, The SK405233 Lost place in Breedon on the Hill, site of an Iron Age hill fort, perhaps in the western border zone of the Corieltauvi tribe
Burrough Hill SK770120 Lost place in Burrough on the Hill, site of an Iron Age hill fort, perhaps the central place of the Corieltauvi tribe before the Roman invasion[27]
Burrowchurch SK835185 Lost place in Wymondham, located to its west[22]
Canby SK605170 Lost place in Sileby which gave its name to one of the three Sileby medieval great fields[23]
Charleyston Lost place in Charley recorded in 1280[22]
Colby SK617090 Lost place in Thurmaston close to boundary with Humberstone[23]
Cold Newton SK716065 Deserted Medieval Village
Cotes de Val SP553887 Deserted Medieval Village in Gilmorton
Dishley SK513212 Deserted Medieval Village
Dodyngton Lost place in Rearsby, recorded about 1480[23]
Doveland SK560043 Lost place in St Mary's Field, Leicester, recorded about 1230[24]
Duninc Wicon SP495870 Lost place in Ullesthorpe, recorded in 962AD, possibly to be rendered as Dunna's wic (vicus), it was perhaps the site of a Romano British township located towards Watling Street[25]
Elmesthorpe SP460965 Deserted Medieval Village
Eye Kettleby SK734167 Deserted Medieval Village in Melton Mowbray
Foston SP604950 Deserted Medieval Village
Freake's Ground SK575054 Lost place in Leicester, recorded as Mr Freakes Land in 1625, it lay between the Groby and Fosse Roads, it became an extra-parochial area[24]
Frisby SK704020 Deserted Medieval Village between Billesdon and Gaulby
Frogmire SK581052 Lost place in Leicester, recorded as Frogemere in 1196, it lay between two arms of the River Soar outside the North Gate, it is now represented by Frog Island[24]
Garendon SK502199 Deserted Medieval Village in Loughborough
Gillethorp or Godthorp SK770100 Lost place included in Domesday as Godtorp and as Gillethorp in the Leicestershire Survey of about 1130, it lay between Somerby and Newbold Saucey[27]
Gilroes SK560065 Lost place in Leicester Frith, recorded as Gilleuro in 1322[24]
(Goadby Marwood) SK780270 Lost site of a minor Romano-British settlement, a vicus, established alongside the Roman road from the Fosse Way at Six Hills towards the Ermine Street at Spitalgate, near Grantham in Lincolnshire. There is no evidence of its location within the parish or its name[27]
Gopsall SK353064 Deserted Medieval Village in Twycross
Great Stretton SK657005 Deserted Medieval Village, its parish church remains
Hamilton SK645075 Deserted Medieval Village in Barkby Thorpe
Hardwick Lost place in Bottesford, recorded about 1220 as Herdewic[22]
Hardwick SP720970 Lost place in Shangton, recorded 1252 as Herdwyk[22]
Hogston Lost place in Sileby, recorded in the 17th century as Hogston side[23]
Holyoaks SP845957 Deserted Medieval Village in Stockerston
Hothorpe SP669851 Lost place in Theddingworth, in the 18th century the home of the Lord of the Manor, which at the time of Domesday extended south of the River Welland into present day Northamptonshire where it now lies[26]
Hungerton SP625985 Lost place in Wigston Magna, recorded about 1285 as Hungertonhill, not to be confused with Hungarton[22]
Hygham Lost place in Wycomb and Chadwell, recorded in 1582, it gave its name to one of the parish medieval great fields[27]
Ingarsby SK684055 Deserted Medieval Village in Hungarton, often called Old Ingarsby to differentiate it from modern New Ingarsby which lies to the north west of Houghton on the Hill[28]
Keythorpe SP765995 Deserted Medieval Village in Tugby
Kilwardby SK354166 Lost place in Ashby de la Zouch, now represented by Kilwardby Street[22]
Knaptoft SP626895 Deserted Medieval Village, the remnants of the parish church remain
Knave Hill SP744943 Lost place in Stonton Wyville, a local name for Langton Caudle which is the site of an abandoned Saxon settlement pinpointed by archaeological excavation[26]
Leesthorpe SK792136 Deserted Medieval Village in Pickwell
Leroes Lost place in St Margaret's Field Leicester, recorded in 1346 as le Leywro[24]
Lilinge Lost place either between Ullesthorpe and Bitteswell or in Westrill and Starmore adjacent to Lilbourne Northamptonshire, it was included in Domesday in Guthlaxton Wapentake[25]
Lindley SP365958 Deserted Medieval Village in Higham on the Hill, now under the Motor Industry Research Association (MIRA) Proving Ground
Longton Lost place in Humberstone, recorded in 1612[23]
Lowesby SK725078 Deserted Medieval Village
Lowton Lost place in Humberstone recorded about 1480[23]
Lubbesthorpe SK541011 Deserted Medieval Village
Luffnum Lost place in Humberstone, recorded about 1730, perhaps similar in origin to the place-name Luffenham in Rutland[23]
Manduessedum SP330968 Lost Place in Witherley, it was a Romano British settlement extending into Mancetter Warwickshire at the junction of Watling Street and the Roman road Fenn Lane from Leicester
(Medbourne) SP796929 Lost Romano-British town on the Roman road from Godmanchester to Leicester. The site remains unknown, no name survives for the town and Medbourne field names do not indicate its probable location[26]
Mirabel SP845957 Lost place in Stockerston, recorded as hermitagii de Mirabel in 1232, located close, and in opposition to the pagan centre at Holyoaks, it is now represented by Great and Little Merrible Woods[26]
Misterton SP556840 Deserted Medieval Village, the parish church, the minster of the place-name, remains[25]
Nafferton Lost place in Foston, recorded in 1619[25]
Naneby SK435025 Deserted Medieval Village in Cadeby
Netone Lost place included in Domesday in Gartree Wapentake
Newarke, The SK582041 Lost place in Leicester, recorded as le Newerk in 1361, it lay outside the town wall by the castle and was itself walled round[24]
Newbold Folville SK706120 Deserted Medieval Village in Ashby Folville
Newbold Saucey SK765090 Deserted Medieval Village in Owston
New Park of Bird's Nest, The SK560058 Lost place in Leicester Frith, recorded as Briddesnest in 1362, it is now represented by the New Parks suburb of the city[24]
Normandy Lost Place in St Margaret's Field Leicester, recorded in 1453[24]
Normanton Turville SP489995 Deserted Medieval Village
North Marefield SK752088 Deserted Medieval Village, now often called Old Marefield
Noseley SP733987 Deserted Medieval Village
Othorpe SP771995 Deserted Medieval Village in Slawston
Quenby SK702065 Deserted Medieval Village in Hungarton
Ratae Corieltauvorum SK582045 Lost place replaced by Leicester, it was the Romano British cantonal capital of the Corieltauvi (formerly known as Coritani) tribe whose previous centre was probably Burrough Hill in the county, and who named it Ratis before the Roman invasion. When, how and why Ratae/Ratis transformed into Legorensium by 787AD is unknown[24]
Ringlethorpe SK776235 Deserted Medieval Village in Scalford, now the location of Goldsmith Grange
St Clement SK581048 Lost place in Leicester, recorded in 1220, it was one of its medieval parishes and lay in the west quarter[24]
St Leonard SK580055 Lost place in Leicester, recorded in 1220, it was one of its medieval parishes and lay over the North, or St Sunday's Bridge[24]
St Mary in Arden SP741875 Lost Place in medieval Great Bowden, now Market Harborough, perhaps the original centre of an early parish that included both Great and Little Bowden, any link with the Forest of Arden Warwickshire is unproven[29]
St Michael SK584049 Lost place in Leicester, recorded in 1220, it was one of its medieval parishes and lay in the north quarter[24]
St Peter SK585047 Lost place in Leicester, recorded in 1200, it was one of its medieval parishes and lay in the north quarter[24]
Sauvey SK786052 Lost place in Withcote, recorded as Salvee in 1229, was the location of Sauvey Castle[22]
Shelthorpe SK545185 Deserted Medieval Village in Loughborough
Schirdiccotes Lost place in Thurmaston, recorded about 1320, a similar name to Shirtecoat in Great Bowden[26]
Schyrdaycotis Lost place in Newton Harcourt, recorded in the 14th century, a similar name to Shirtecoat in Great Bowden[26]
Shirtecoat SP740900 Lost place in Great Bowden, recorded about 1250, located in the medieval great North Field of the parish, perhaps meaning derelict cottages or summer shelters[26]
Schortecotes Lost place in Horninghold, recorded about 1300, perhaps a similar name to Shirtecoat in Great Bowden[26]
Shoby SK683203 Deserted Medieval Village
Shouldercoates Lost place in Twyford, although only recorded in 1826 and as such a possible echo of a medieval name, it may be similar in meaning to Shirtecoat in Great Bowden or to be interpreted as the cottages on the hill shoulder[26]
South Marefield SK746079 Lost place represented by modern Marefield, in Domesday it was included as alia Merdefelde to distinguish it from the now deserted North Marefield which was also called Old Marefield[26]
Stapleford SK813183 Deserted Medieval Village
Staunton Harold SK379209 Deserted Medieval Village
Stocking, The SK583078 Lost place in Beaumont Leys Leicester, recorded as le Stokkynge in 1352, now represented by the Stocking Farm suburb of the city[24]
Stormsworth SP583806 Deserted Medieval Village in Westrill and Starmore, the name has evolved into Starmore[25]
Sysonby SK739190 Deserted Medieval Village in Melton Mowbray, traditionally where the River Eye became the River Wreake
Tomley SP552795 Lost place in Catthorpe, recorded as Tomlowe in 1343, perhaps relating to a Tom Thumb type character and to be rendered as Hobgoblin's Mound[25]
Toston SK800370 Lost place in Bottesford, recorded as Toxtonhyl in 1304, now represented by Toston Hill[22]
Tripontium SP535795 Lost Place in Shawell, perhaps commemorating stream crossings at Dow Bridge SK542782 in Catthorpe and Bransford Bridge SK519822 in Cotesbach, the third crossing was at Caves Inn in Shawell, it was a Romano British settlement extending into Warwickshire on Roman Watling Street located at modern Caves Inn Farm[25]
Venonis SK474888 Lost place at the meeting point of Claybrooke Magna and Parva and Sharnford, now represented by High Cross, it was a Romano British settlement extending into Warwickshire at the crossing point of the Roman Fosse Way and Watling Street, inhabited by the Corieltauvi who named it The Place of the Tribe (Venonis)[25]
Vernemeton SK650250 Lost place in Willoughby on the Wolds Nottinghamshire, A Romano British settlement on Fosse Way whose territory extended into Old Dalby and Wymeswold, Horrou and Harrowefield in Wymeswold probably relate to the same sacred grove commemorated in the name Vernemeton[28]
Welby SK725210 Deserted Medieval Village
Wellsborough SK365024 Deserted Medieval Village in Sibson
Westcotes SK570300 Lost place in St Mary's Field Leicester
Westerby SP675925 Lost place incorporated with neighbouring Smeeton into Smeeton Westerby by 1279[26]
Weston Lost place in Beeby, recorded in 1601, gave its name to one of the Beeby great medieval fields which lay west of the boundary with Hungarton[23]
Weston SK303027 Deserted Medieval Village in Orton on the Hill, now the location of Moor Barns Farm
Westrill Lost place in Westrill and Starmore, recorded as Westerhyll in 1578, perhaps located at Gravel Hill SP580800[22]
Westthorpe Lost place in Bottesford, recorded as Westorp in 1249. Easthorpe is still a settlement in the parish[22]
Whatborough SK767060 Deserted Medieval Village
Whenham SK725238 Lost place in Ab Kettleby that gave its name to a field in the parish, it was probably sited close to Landyke Lane, the Roman road from the Fosse Way at Six Hills to Ermine Street near Grantham[27]
Whittington SP486083 Deserted Medieval Village in Ratby
Willesley SK340146 Deserted Medieval Village
Willows SK660180 Deserted Medieval Village in Ragdale
Wistow SP644958 Deserted Medieval Village
Withcote SK797059 Deserted Medieval Village
Woodcote SK354187 Deserted Medieval Village in Ashby de la Zouch
Twyford south of Colsterworth, SK929229[77] Note: there is a similarly named surviving village at SK728103 - The name at Colsterworth is preserved in nearby woodland.
DunwichTM475705, a significant medieval town 9 miles (14 km) south of Southwold, now largely lost to coastal erosion: the western fringes survive as a village
Roxburgh, Substantial settlement founded by David I as one of his first Royal Burghs, acted as de facto capital of Scotland, and destroyed repeatedly during the Wars of Scottish Independence. The Royal Burgh was finally abandoned in the late 15th century.[112][113]
Rutherford, Farm now on site, 4 miles (6.4 km) east of St Boswells
^"eng-h.gov.uk". 4.20.28 Stratton, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, deserted medieval village. Archived from the original on 6 January 2009. Retrieved 19 March 2010.
^"District map of the Ambergate, Nottingham & Boston, and Eastern Junction Railway, with extension and branches." Late 19th century. Lincolnshire Archives ref: 4 GL/5/6. Acc. Number: 2008/35.
^Ed Hurst JG and Beresford MW, Provisional List of Deserted Medieval Villages in Leicestershire, in Transactions of the Leicestershire Archaeological Society Vol 39, Leicester, 1964
^ abcBailey.M (2007) Medieval Suffolk: An Economic and Social History, 1200-1500 Woodbridge: The Boydwell Press. Available online, retrieved 2015-10-31.
^"Charlwood and Horley Act 1974 (c.11)". Text of the Charlwood and Horley Act 1974. OPSI (Office of Public Sector Information). 8 February 1974. Retrieved 30 December 2008.