The Components Of The Medieval Settlement

Some impression of the medieval settlement pattern can be gained by examining the 1st edition Ordnance survey and the earlier historic maps. Although these depict a state of affairs several centuries after the medieval period, they do enable the most modern alterations to be stripped away.

In conjunction, use of the medieval documentary sources relating to Elsdon, plus the evidence of the surviving remains, helps to reveal how the various components of the medieval settlement functioned and provides some understanding of their historical development.

Particularly important in this regard are a series of 13th and early 14th century law suits and the successive post mortem inquests assessing the property of the lords of Redesdale - the Umfravilles and later the Taillbois - on behalf of the crown.