Old Thornley medieval settlement, open field system and hollow way, 110m north of Thornley Hall Farm

Scheduled area

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History & significance

Old Thornley medieval settlement is a designated ancient monument located approximately 110 metres north of Thornley Hall Farm in County Durham. The site comprises the earthwork remains of a medieval settlement together with associated open field systems and a hollow way, which represents the physical expression of medieval agricultural and settlement practices in the region. The hollow way, formed by generations of foot and cart traffic, provides archaeological evidence of communication routes and patterns of land use during the medieval period. The open field system visible in the earthworks demonstrates the characteristic medieval strip cultivation methods that dominated the farming landscape of northern England, with the settlement itself representing the residential core of what was likely a nucleated village community occupying this location during the medieval centuries.

Old Thornley medieval settlement, open field system and hollow way, 110m north of Thornley Hall Farm is a scheduled monument protected by Historic England under reference 1019914. View the official record →

Questions & answers

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