Deserted medieval villages (DMVs) are abandoned settlements in England, with over 3,500 estimated across the country. DMVs can date back to various periods, with Wharram Percy in Yorkshire being a famous example. Reasons for abandonment include aristocratic landscaping, the Black Death, and flooding. DMVs are popular for mobility hunting, and other countries also have their own abandoned settlements, such as Romania’s Transylvania and America’s ghost towns from the Gold Rush era.
A deserted medieval village or DMV is a ghost settlement, an abandoned place where partially erected houses and clipping marks remain but the inhabitants have long since moved to other places. England ranks first in the world for the number of engines; according to the latest count, it was estimated that over 3,500 DMVs were distributed across the country.
The term DMV can be misleading, as not all deserted villages date back to medieval times. Some settlements were abandoned until 1950, while others have been abandoned since the 5th century. One of the most famous DMVs in the world is Wharram Percy in Yorkshire, England. Wharram Percy was the focus of an extensive archaeological investigation lasting over forty years. Only the remains of a church are clearly visible on the surface, even if the surrounding landscape clearly shows the layout of the original village.
There are many reasons a DMV has become deserted. Many medieval settlements were forcibly abandoned when the local aristocracy decided that landscape gardens were more important than the local inhabitants, thus forcing thousands of residents to relocate and rebuild elsewhere. The Black Death is responsible for most DMVs dating back to the 14th century, as the epidemic caused a large and rapid population decline in England. Many settlements that survived the plague were later evacuated to make room for sheep grazing and land use. Many DMVs have been abandoned due to flooding or intense soil erosion that has ruled out farming and agriculture.
Mobility hunting is a popular pastime in England. Every year thousands of people travel the country in search of lost villages, eager to photographically document a magnificent example of the country’s heritage.
While DMVs are more common in England, other countries also have their fair share. Romania boasts an impressive array of DMVs, especially around Transylvania, although many of these settlements have only been abandoned in the last couple hundred years. Ghost towns are the American equivalent of motorization, with most of the abandoned settlements dating back to the Gold Rush era. Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada and California have over 100 ghost towns, many of which attract thousands of tourists each year.
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