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The Lost Villages of England
This book showcases 57 of England's most fascinating 'lost' villages, illustrated with full-color, modern day photographs and archive pictures and documents.
176 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 17, 2021
A very comprehensive and well illustrated book about lost villages from lots of different periods of history. Some have disappeared into the sea, some are neolithic, some are medieval. I've only visited one but lots on my to do list. My only criticism, the book is a bit too big and unwieldy but thats a minor detail.
September 27, 2025
"England is full of deserted, abandoned and 'lost' villages. Many became uninhabited in medieval times, for reasons ranging from death by plague to the encroachment of the sea, and from the invasions of armies to the invasion of sheep. Others, such as Tyneham, in Dorset and Imber, in Wiltshire, were taken over by the military in more recent times of war, yet they were never returned to their original inhabitants. Today, rocky remains, earthworks and crumbling infrastructure is all that is left to tell the stories of the inhabitants that once thrived in these villages.
"In this fascinating book, author Leigh Driver sets out to investigate the fates of 57 of England's lost villages, delving into the mysteries surrounding their depopulation. Using historical documents, maps and archaeological remains, Driver assembles the fragments of the past to paint a vivid picture of each village at the pinnacle of its habitation, as well as the events that brought about its demise. Illustrated with over 150 photographs, placed alongside aerial views, illustrations, maps, historical documents and, where they exist, old photographs of the villages as they were, these diverse settlements are brought vividly back to life in this extraordinary book."
~~front flap
A very thorough investigation of the oftentimes ephemeral remains of lost villages -- villages that you mostly wouldn't know had ever been there if you walked over them. The book is a wonderful example of how quickly our habitations fade back into the landscape, leaving only the faintest of traces that only a professional eye can discern.
"In this fascinating book, author Leigh Driver sets out to investigate the fates of 57 of England's lost villages, delving into the mysteries surrounding their depopulation. Using historical documents, maps and archaeological remains, Driver assembles the fragments of the past to paint a vivid picture of each village at the pinnacle of its habitation, as well as the events that brought about its demise. Illustrated with over 150 photographs, placed alongside aerial views, illustrations, maps, historical documents and, where they exist, old photographs of the villages as they were, these diverse settlements are brought vividly back to life in this extraordinary book."
~~front flap
A very thorough investigation of the oftentimes ephemeral remains of lost villages -- villages that you mostly wouldn't know had ever been there if you walked over them. The book is a wonderful example of how quickly our habitations fade back into the landscape, leaving only the faintest of traces that only a professional eye can discern.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews