Reasons for Designation
Medieval rural settlements in England were marked by great regional diversity
in form, size and type, and the protection of their archaeological remains
needs to take these differences into account. To do this, England has been
divided into three broad Provinces on the basis of each area's distinctive
mixture of nucleated and dispersed settlements. These can be further divided
into sub-Provinces and local regions, possessing characteristics which have
gradually evolved during the past 1500 years or more.
The East Durham Plateau local region is a limestone upland partly covered by
glacial clays. The upper part of the plateau was almost devoid of settlement
until the creation of the late 19th century mining communities, but ancient
villages occupy the varied soils of the western sub-Provincial boundary, and
can be found along the north-south routes just inland from the coast. Towards
the southern edge and the Tees Valley, there has been significant settlement
depopulation.
Details
The monument includes the earthworks and buried remains of Yoden medieval
village which lies on the magnesian limestone plateau of East Durham. The
plan of the medieval settlement of Yoden is of a type familiar to this part of
County Durham in which parallel lines of tofts or houses with crofts or garden
areas to the rear face on to a village green. At Yoden the main green runs
east-west through the village. Beyond the tofts and crofts would lie the
communal open fields where the crops were grown. The tofts and crofts at Yoden
survive as visible earthworks up to 0.5m high forming rectangular and
subrectangular enclosures. The green around which the tofts and crofts were
arranged is no longer obvious on the ground, but it is clearly shown on the
first edition Ordnance Survey map. Traces of this green can be expected to
survive below the ground. Deep ploughing has removed any potential earthworks
to the east of those presently visible, although archaeological deposits
relating to the medieval settlement can also be expected to have survived
below ground. A post-medieval quarry has destroyed part of the settlement to
the north.
The village of Yoden is mentioned by Simeon of Durham as the northern limit of
Scula's (a Danish viking warlord), oppression, in around 900-915. Finds from
partial excavations in 1884 included pottery from the 14th to 16th century.
All fencing and modern walls are excluded from the scheduling although the
ground beneath them is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
34579
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Other
Legal
This monument is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 as amended as it appears to the Secretary of State to be of national importance. This entry is a copy, the original is held by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
End of official list entry
