Stainsby : In-depth Information

We do not know exactly when or why Stainsby became deserted. The earliest map of the settlement, drawn in 1757, shows a single farm as the only surviving building. Stainsby like many other villages probably fell on hard times following the Black Death and the wars with Scotland. As population levels fell some poorer villages went out of use. The remaining inhabitants of Stainsby probably moved to more prosperous settlements such as Stainton or Thornaby.

To try to understand the remains better, Tees Archaeology surveyed the earthworks in 1996.

The results of the survey showed that the earthworks told a complex story. It revealed a number of large enclosures arranged side by side in two straight rows. These enclosures are thought to be the tofts of the village. A toft was a plot of land occupied by a single farmstead.

The main farm building would have occupied the front of the toft with the remainder being used as a garden or allotment for growing food, raising stock and waste disposal. There is some evidence for a main track way or green running through the settlement with the tofts on either side of it. Other features of the village include ponds, track ways and boundaries.

Some of the tofts had been ploughed flat many years ago. It was possible to identify the sites of these by studying aerial photographs. The aerial photographs showed the tofts as darker marks in the soil on a ploughed field at the village.

The areas surrounding the tofts have prominent ridge and furrow earthworks. These earthworks give the field surfaces a corrugated appearance. This was caused by ploughing with teams of oxen in the medieval period. The ridges were deliberately ploughed to improve growing conditions and the drainage for crops.

Stainsby is a remarkable monument representing a whole abandoned village. It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument of national importance. When the adjacent A19 was planned in 1969, its route was purposefully changed to avoid the remains. This is the first time a major road scheme had been re-routed to avoid a deserted medieval village.

The only modern damage to the monument now has its own place in history. During World War II this area was heavily defended as it lay on the outskirts of Thornaby Aerodrome. A number of defensive pillboxes were built around the perimeter of this military site. One of these survives and is a small hexagonal building built from reinforced concrete. This would have supported a light anti-aircraft machine gun inside the parapet on its roof. Although this originally damaged part of the village, it is now recognised as important in its own right and is included in the Scheduling of the monument.

NZ 465 157.

Stainsby

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In-depth information

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