Wharram Percy

Wharram Percy is a deserted medieval village in the Yorkshire Wolds, England, where the ruins of St Martin's Church stand among visible outlines of former houses. A millpond lies in the valley bottom, surrounded by rolling hills and pastureland.

The settlement was inhabited continuously from the Bronze Age until 1500, when only four families remained. Sheep farming gradually replaced smallholder agriculture during the late medieval period.

The name derives from an Old English word describing a winding valley, where farmsteads once lined a stream. Visitors today can still trace the rectangular earthworks that mark former house sites, while livestock grazing maintains the grassland.

The site requires a three-quarter mile walk from the parking area, with paths that become steep and muddy during wet weather. Sturdy footwear is advisable as some sections are uneven.

Analysis of human remains from the churchyard in 2004 provided detailed information about medieval diseases, nutrition, and health conditions. The graves contained skeletons spanning several centuries, documenting the lives of residents.

Location: Wharram

Website: https://english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/wharram-percy-deserted-medieval-village

GPS coordinates: 54.06750,-0.68972

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:28