Wharram Percy ceased to be a village in the late 15th or early 16th century, when the landholders evicted the villagers to make way for sheep pasture. However, occupation of the site did not end here. In the valley stood a farmstead, the vicarage and the church.
In the 1770s the farm at Wharram Percy was 'improved' by the landlord, Sir Charles Buck. Agriculture in east Yorkshire was changing dramatically, as sheep-farming reverted to arable farming and new fields were created, separated by hedges and ditches.
This 'Improvement' also involved the building of new stone and brick houses for the tenant farmers, larger barns and a granary. These buildings were demolished in the 19th century, replaced by a farmhouse one mile distant, but the byre and feed-store, have survived and have been incorporated into the present cottages for labourers.
In the 20th century, the cottages enjoyed a new lease of life as a hostel and headquarters for the archaeologists involved in the excavations from 1950 to 1990.
Disclaimer
The text and pictures on this page are derived from the 'Heritage Unlocked' series of guidebooks published in 2004. We intend to review, update and enhance the content in the near future as part of the Portico project, whose objective is to provide information on the history, significance, research background and sources for all English Heritage properties.
