Two Manors

Two manor complexes have been identified at Wharram Percy.

Reconstruction showing the south manor in the early 13th century, by Stephen Conlin © English Heritage Photo Library The South Manor was built first, and has often been recognised as the home of the Chamberlain family, the most important landholders before the Percy family gained control of the village in the mid-13th century. The manor was demolished around this time, eclipsed by the North Manor. After the demolition, several peasant longhouses were built on its site.

The South Manor was unexpectedly re-discovered in 1955 during the excavation of one of these peasant houses. Over the next three summers, archaeologists excavated the remains of a large rectangular stone building down to three metres below the surface. The building was interpreted as the chamber block of the manor house, a two-storeyed building in which the family of the lord would have lived in some degree of privacy with storage space below. Fragments of carved stonework enabled archaeologists to reconstruct features such as windows and fireplaces, and indicated that the chamber block was built in the late 12th century. The shape of the manor’s enclosure has been reconstructed but the layout of other buildings is less clear. In particular no sign of the larger hall, which would have complemented the chamber block, has survived.

Reconstruction of the north manor in the late 13th century, by Peter Dunn © English Heritage Photo Library At the north end of the village stood the manor complex of the Percy family, the lords of Wharram from the mid-13th century onwards. This manor had several buildings, including a hall, chambers, kitchens, brewhouse and dovecote. A large barn stood at the west end of the manor enclosure. Fourteenth-century documents also mention a 'park', probably a small paddock nearby.

The North Manor prospered for around 70 years, but fell into disuse in the later 14th century. It was probably demolished in the early 15th century. Its site has never been extensively excavated, and its interpretation is based on the plan of its buried walls and earthworks. A survey of 2002 by English Heritage identified several of the details in the present reconstruction. Most importantly, it showed that the manor enclosure was enlarged at least once, while the plan of the buildings inside changed dramatically during its short life.