Medieval settlement at Compton Verney

Excavation of a Medieval building at the deserted settlement of Compton Murdak | Warwickshire County Council
Excavation of a Medieval building at the deserted settlement of Compton Murdak
Warwickshire County Council
Description of this historic site

Trial trenching at Compton Verney revealed the well preserved remains of Compton Murdak, a Medieval village which is known to have been deserted during the 15th century. Medieval pottery was also found during a fieldwalking survey.

Notes about this historic site

1 In August and September 1991 the Warwickshire Museum undertook an archaeological evaluation at Compton Verney. Trial trenching revealed the well-preserved remains of deserted Medieval settlement dating to the period of the 13th-15th centuries. The house foundations and other features which were located are likely to be the remains of the village of Compton Murdak, which was probably deserted in the mid to late 15th century.
2 Pottery recovered during fieldwalking by Professor C Dyer in 1999 was of similar date (12th-15th century) and type to the pottery found during the excavations of 1991. The distribution of pottery suggests that in soil dumped in the 18th century during the creation of the lakes has sealed the medieval village below in the area adjacent to the lake. Modern ploughing is not currently penetrating onto the Medieval site. The relatively high density of pottery to the north of the 1991 excavation indicates that the size of the Medieval settlement was larger than previously thought.

More from Compton Verney