Priors Hardwick Medieval Settlement

1 The possible extent of the Medieval settlement, other than known deserted areas, based on the first edition 6″ map of 1884, 47 NW.
2 Domesday lists the village in Hunsbury Hundred. The Phillimore edition has a grid reference of 47,56, which differs slightly from this monument which is 46,56. The 3 areas of SAM 30046 correspond however.
Ref 6,14 (Land of Coventry Church) (Priors) Hardwick, 15 hides. Land for 16 ploughs. In lordship 2; 4 slaves; 43 villagers and 2 smallholders with 13 ploughs. Meadow, 40 acres. Value before 1066 £9; later 4; now £10.
3 The 1884 map shows a dispersed village with thin settlement. There seems to be a boundary hedge on the western and northern sides which abuts the ridge and furrow survival shown on the database, although there is one area of ridge and furrow within this boundary. The parish boundary limits the village to the east, and to the south there is a mixture of lanes and little fields. The three scheduled areas of shrunken settlement [SAM 30046] lie in the eastern and southern parts of the village. The first edition map shows little plots in the vicarage area. Domesday indicates a populous and valuable village, and the church dates from the C13th.
4 No medieval archaeological remains were uncovered at Doe Bank Farm but the site was heavily disturbed in the 19th and 20th centuries.
5 See associated monuments for further details on the extant earthworks that comprise the shrunken settlement remains.