Asterleigh, Medieval village ruins in Kiddington with Asterleigh, England.
Asterleigh is a deserted medieval village with ten visible house platforms and the remains of St. Peter's Church sitting on a ridge near Pump Copse. Earthwork boundaries still mark the edges of the settlement today, making it possible to trace where buildings and open spaces once were.
The settlement grew during the medieval period and had around 20 farms by 1279, but declined after the plague reached the region. Residents moved away to Nether Kiddington, which led to the final abandonment of the village in the 15th century.
The way houses were arranged around St. Peter's Church shows how a medieval community organized daily life in this place. Walking through the earthworks, you can see where homes, the religious center, and farming areas sat in relation to one another.
The site is straightforward to explore since the earthworks clearly show where the village boundaries and church once were. Wear sturdy shoes as the ground is uneven and can become muddy after rain.
Two post-medieval kilns were found at the site, revealing that craft activity continued here long after villagers moved away. This shows that people still used the land for production even when it was no longer a home community.
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