Risby

Risby is a deserted medieval village in East Riding of Yorkshire where earthworks and stone foundations still mark the locations of former homes and farm buildings. The site also features a decorative folly built in 1770 beside a lake, reflecting 18th-century English landscape design preferences.

A hall built in the 1680s suffered two major fires around 1800 and was never rebuilt after that. The land was then abandoned, leaving only the earthworks and foundations of the older settlement as reminders of habitation.

The earthworks reveal how people lived and farmed together as a community before the village emptied out. Seeing these remains helps visitors understand the layout of medieval settlements and which structures supported everyday life.

The site is accessible from the road and can be explored on foot, with earthworks and foundations clearly visible from ground level. The nearby Risby Folly Cafe provides a convenient stop for rest after visiting the remains.

Before the hall of the 1680s was built, King Henry VIII visited an earlier building on this ground, showing a royal connection spanning centuries. This early royal visit suggests the place held importance across generations.

Location: Rowley

GPS coordinates: 53.80080,-0.47017

Latest update: December 14, 2025 11:41