Why 45 Villages in Wiltshire Vanished - A Short Documentary

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Welcome to our latest offering. Firstly a big thanks to our patreons and KZbin member who have made this film possible.
In this weeks film we take a look at the lost villages of Wiltshire, trying to find a connection that links then all. There are a dozen new elements to the film that I've been trying to master so please bear with me!
Credits:
Music: Epidemicsound and Artlist.io
Sound Effects: Epidemicsound and Storyblocks
Additional Footage: Storyblocks
Additional Drone Footage: Hedley Thorne
(Holloway and West Kennet).
Maps: OS Maps Crown Copyright 2023 - Media License.
Maps: Google Maps.
Maps: National Library of Scotland
Lidar: Via National Library of Scotland
Filter: Snowman Digital and Beachfront B-Roll
Other Filters: Storyblocks
Chapters:
00:00 - Intro
00:59 - The Spreadsheet
02:13 - Snap
05:13 - Lower Upham
07:15 - Woodhill
09:58 - Bupton
10:59 - Bincknoll
13:22 - Chisbury
14:57 - Shaw
19:15 - Conclusion

[@pwhitewick]

If you would like to become a community member and access behind the scenes videos you can sign up to patreon or youtube members here: www.patreon.com/PaulandRebeccaWhitewick youtube.com/@pwhitewick/join

[@squeezyjohn1]

This channel really is a gem. One of your very best.

[@AndriyValdensius-wi8gw]

Many medieval villages were abandoned after the Black Death of the 14th century around 1350. There was massive depopulation leading to severe labour shortages. It did however lead to improvement in social conditions. Agricultural workers were always needed bur became very scarce. They could demand, and did demand relatively high wages for work, which previous generations did for either nothing or a pittance as they were essentially serfs. Now the wealthy landowners had to beg farmworkers to do the necessary jobs, and offer high pay to get work done.

[@D3f1anCE]

Hands up if you think these guys should get an actual T.V show doing archaeology akin to time team ?!

[@TheSilmarillian]

Definitely they apparently are a team of two imagine with full production financial backing , in having said that between them their productions out rivel time team and their presentation backed by subscribers they have found the sweet spot here on YT , guess its up 2 them , sometimes the algorithm becomes a revenue source becomes a self serving parameter for YT, in my humble opinion content like this is a breath of fresh air , I will see myself out

[@adrianlee2910]

An exceptionally well-made film! The highest professional standards have been reached. You have gone way beyond the average KZbin video. Frankly, this is the sort of quality that we used to expect from BBC2 and Channel 4, before they became bogged down with panel games and "Reality T.V." Thank you so much for putting in this effort. It is important work and tells part of the story of our country. Tremendous.

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Adrian. Very kind.

[@EclecticMusicMan]

@@pwhitewick he’s 100% right.

[@rmk]

I completely agree - I was thinking "this is a professional production" and a joy to watch. Thank you Paul and Rebecca for putting the enormous amount of effort into making this style of video.

[@chrismoule7242]

Well said.

[@Hjd10]

I was just thinking the same myself. This is very good.

[@SharpblueCreative]

Snap - I grew up on Upper Upham Farm - Wiltshire Man did a story about this village on his channel some years ago. As a kid I used to walk round there. I was always amazed by the water pump. Seeing you walk around where I grew up is so surreal. I lived at No 6 Summerdale Cottages - back in 1970 Yes, this format works well.

[@Sim0nTrains]

Can defiantly tell that been a lot of care, time and effort gone into this video than a rushed weekly video. Really enjoyed it, epic video Paul

[@LeiceExplore]

That was a brilliant film! Like yourself, I spend time now and again walking amongst the remnants and living quarters of those that came before us. There are so many abandoned settlements in the UK. Thanks for making the effort to research, and make this video, I do this sort of thing, and appreciate the effort you've gone to, to film, and edit this video. Cheers.

[@urbangeeze1348]

Paul, well done mate. This is by far, the best mini doc from you both for ages. How you haven't been offered a job by mainstream t.v is beyond me. It's well researched & informed content, spoken very eloquently, is a credit to you both. Keep 'em coming like this mate. Regards...........Urban Geeze.

[@bullettube9863]

Another wonderful video tour of what used to be! It's sobering to think that 200 years ago a family could support itself on just 20 acres of arable land with another 10-20 acres of common pasture. Today a farm of just 500 acres is barely enough for a farmer to break even in a good year.

[@Hairnicks]

That was superb, real history brought alive by you two. Love the new format.

[@michaeljohnson4636]

Well done another electrifying documentary

[@kaikiefer499]

This is a very interesting subject! And I love the scenery in this part of England too. Beautifully done drone shots.

[@aengusmacnaughton1375]

I know that you all have busy-busy lives outside of the channel -- and you have had to make some life choices -- but thank you *SO MUCH* for still posting videos, and all of the work that you go through!!!

[@Crepello100]

As a teenager I used to spend hours in Banstead Library going through their 'Surrey Archaeological Collections', their old maps plus books of the wider landscape history (especially Wiltshire). It was a wonderful journey of discovery though often leading to more questions than answers. I recognize your sense of wonder as you peace together how places came about and then often disappeared through various reasons, often though not always to do with the palgue of the 1300's and/or big landowners finding sheep more profitable than people. It gave me a sense of place in an ever changing landscape. Now I'm in Brittany and doing the same thing using new and quite detailed maps which have only existed here for the past 20 years or so. There's barely any written history books at all! But I'm finding if one goes back far enough (basically pre- Dark Ages) it's very similar here to England, as if the same people were building barrows, chambered tombs, old long-distance trackways etc. as in Western Britain right up until the end of the Roman era. It's just as fascinating though also more frustrating as there's so little written evidence compared to Britain. Archaeology is now advanceing here though I sometimes feel like an 18th C archaeologist, working things out for the very first time!

[@golden.lights.twinkle2329]

Big landowners need people to take care of the house, land and animals. And those people have to live somewhere.

[@ColinH1973]

A thoroughly captivating piece of work, which I really enjoyed. One day you may visit Wharram Percy on the Yorkshire Wolds which has an abandoned village; abandoned railway; heritage railway; excellent pub nearby in Thixendale. What's not to like! Excellent, reflective, and enthusiastic as ever. Thank you Paul and Rebecca.

[@conscientiousobjector9555]

You are so lucky that you can find documents on these old villages. Sadly, in Ireland we are dependent on the physical remains because there is no information extant.

[@Tone720]

If this is what we get when you get to take that little bit more time over it rather than doing a weekly video, I'm all for it. :)

[@robmuld2685]

Another excellent masterpiece of a presentation. I don’t know how I missed this one earlier. Thank you both for the work you do!

[@JenOnTheMove]

This is easily the best video you have ever produced

[@AndyWoodger]

Keep these Docutubes going. Theres some great history being brought to us AND sometimes from my own county of Wiltshire

[@dilwyn1]

Fascinating Paul ... Just love the quality of research you put into these vids. Every time I learn something new and always interesting

[@Wizzkid9000]

As a geologist, I love this video... best part, a decent chunk of my time is spent staring at old maps!

[@bcoldgoalie]

I share in your love of old maps and atlases. I have a 1950's Hammond atlas that shows all these long since abandoned railways of North America with wonderful names! The quality of your videos is fantastic. Enjoy all your documentaries. 😊

[@SteveInskip]

Excellent video Paul. Villages continue to change, the one I was born into in 1960 is changed beyond recognition in its function and displacement. The new video format was a huge success, you did great!

[@reddoor6114]

My favourite thing about being from my part of Wiltshire as a kid was all the abandoned stone mines in Box, corsham, monkton Farleigh, kingsdown ect...what an amazing place to grow up!

[@roderickmain9697]

Great job. Maps are fascinating. Particularly when you compare old ones to new ones. You can almost see the history change in front of your eyes. I've always been fascinated by railways - where they went, who they served and why the ceased to be. Compare some maps and there you are. But also...roads - Roman ones. Partly school stuff but also, back in the day, car rallies (ie the sort where you spend most of the day following clues and maps and finding targets). Was part of the factory social club that my dad was in but we went along to "see the world" as well as to take part. So not only were we travelling but also looking for clues - pathways, manor houses, old villages. Maps. OS ones in particular. Loads of good stuff in those. Fascinating.

[@markscully2342]

national library of Scotland has a wonderful system where you can overlay older maps and current maps/satellite imagery and it is georeferenced so you can compare what is around you now with what was on any edition of older o/s maps!

[@dlittlester]

Your stepping back sure shows in the quality of your video. This, in my opinion, is the best I've seen, and I've been following for years. If only I was in a position to be a patreon.

[@pwhitewick]

No panic Don. We appreciate your time to watch and comment. All helps!

[@jimfairgray4607]

Hay Paul, farmer Jim here, gotta chuckle at you testing the fence! How to test a fence: 1; Stand on one leg, this halves your conductivity ( pain ! ) 2; Do NOT nancy around dabbing at the wire, that really hurts, instead grab it swiftly and firmly and keep your hand clenched till you've ascertained if its live or not . Will be a pulse lasting a millionth of a second every 1.2 seconds ( 50/min). If you're not game for that try a blade of grass. Get a piece 100mm or longer and hold the tip on the wire, as you hold the other end. Then slowly move closer to wire. At some point you'll feel a small tick which gets stronger the shorter the gap between the wire and your fingers.

[@Albatross-365]

1000% worth the wait for any video you do. Only release them when you're happy. This was well worth it.

[@nickforsyth2153]

I have only recently found this amazing channel. The production value of this was outstanding. I’ve been binge watching all your other videos. The enthusiasm you both have is amazing. I personally don’t care how long it takes between videos. It’s about how you both feel about the quality you can deliver rather than quantity and delivering something you can be proud of without suffering from burn out.

[@MrGreatplum]

That was absolutely fantastic, Mr and Mrs Whitewick! :) I can see the effort that you have put it in to create an extraordinarily well put together film! My hypothesis is that Wiltshire has not, since prehistoric times been the centre of anything much - villages there would have eked out an existence on some pretty poor soils so plague, famine and bad weather would quickly move people on - and then the Industrial Revolution happened and people would have gravitated to the cities abandoning these villages…

[@golden.lights.twinkle2329]

One bad harvest due to poor weather could cause people to starve to death or move elsewhere, thus wiping out a settlement.

[@legrandmaitre7112]

Some of my Wiltshire family were still working on the land in the 1960s and 70s. But you're correct that there was much poverty and hardship, the 1840s were particularly brutal. My family history is littered with references to removal orders, paupers, the workhouse, parish relief etc.

[@invisiblewizard2538]

Thanks for finding AND PRESENTING a null result - refuting your hypothesis is as important as confirming it!

[@golden.lights.twinkle2329]

There is no reason for them to be linked, though I'm sure a few were, maybe the ones he failed to visit.

[@HelenKempster]

A fantastic film Thank Paul..You are a wonderful detective, and such infectious enthusiasm ❤

[@pwhitewick]

Thank you Helen

[@hueckelaromat]

It really shows that you put so much time an effort towards this video. Thank you for providing such interesting and lovely content. Keep up your great work at the pace you choose.

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Elim

[@williamlloyd3769]

Your video reminds me of some of the empty / dying village areas explored near my wife’s family home town in Japan. PS - what an excellent video. Thank you for making this for us!

[@davie941]

hello again Paul and Rebecca , this video was so interesting , when i was younger i loved rummaging in empty fields for old buildings , you can picture all the cottage's with smoke coming from the chimneys and the people going about their day , i really did enjoy this one , really well done and thank you both 😊😍

[@MONTY-YTNOM]

One of the most enjoyable things I've watched all week.

[@robvandeschepop8595]

Dear Paul and Rebecca, thank you very much for this excellent documentary!. Also your deep words at the end made an expression. Greetings from the Netherlands

[@telquad1953]

Yes, startling shots and editing. Very fine work, everyone.

[@ianlawrie919]

Most evocative and inspiring 👏👌👍

[@dawndietz4654]

I very much enjoyed the new style of video. Beautifully shot, edited, and great storytelling ❤

[@52ponybike]

England's history is SO interesting!

[@hedleythorne]

Superb production, levelled up! Enjoyed this a lot.

[@JohnHill-qo3hb]

P&R, is anyone archiving your videos for future generations? Your collective interest in local/regional/national history is, IMHO, worthy of saving. Always an enjoyable time watching your videos. I'm in Canada, we have history of course and possibly in another 200 years there will be a couple such as yourselves rambling over the countryside, scouring the libraries/maps/data bases of the time producing media such as yours.

[@pwhitewick]

We keep a copy, but that's about it

[@gevetsrm]

A really fascinating video, it leaves far more questions than it answers and explains why Historical and Archaeological research is so important, thanks very much.

[@blairmacewancrosbie8646]

I have just discovered your excellent channel Paul and am starting to work through your back catalogue.Eenjoyable, informative and superbly presented.

[@pwhitewick]

Welcome

[@llywrch7116]

This was definitely a labor of love. The next best thing to visiting Wiltshire itself.

[@traceymurphy3469]

Wow, well worth waiting for. What a lovely presentation! Such wonderful research, commentary & photography. This is the way to go! 👌 😊 👍

[@everestyeti]

Top class documentary, really interesting and a proper look at the settlements that used to be occupied in that area. 👍

[@gussyshield2456]

Top notch output and you should be so proud of it; well done!

[@christophernoble6810]

We have these in Somerset too. In addition we have ancient Roman sites as the area around Ilchester is one of the densest for Roman remains in the country presumably because the land was so fertile. I came across a house which was quite old but built on the site of a Roman dwelling giving it a remarkable status. There is much to be learned from the study of old maps and documents, where such exist, as you have discovered. A very intriguing video. Well done.

[@neilthehermit4655]

Congratulations on moving to the new schedule. - Waxing lyrical and amazing photography, along with excellent and detailed research. Worthy addition to your channel. - I look forward to the next.

[@nickorman814]

It has been suggested to me that Shaw was abandoned due to the change of climate when it got colder at that time. It was a grange of the monastery at Winchester (If I recall correctly). The surviving records show a decline in the the harvests over time and repeated crop failures.

[@florian_kopr]

just came to see this after one of the new time team epidoes and I love your landscape archeology and narration. Bravo!

[@revdrjon]

What a grand meditation! Thank you!

[@rjlatham999]

having grew up in Wootton Bassett and the Binknoll lane being near, I never knew it was probably headed in the direction of Binknoll Castle. I have never been Next time im back there I will sure visit it. This is a great video, interesting and full of passion

[@bobsrailrelics]

Thank both, a lot of work, and great appreciation to anyone who starts by saying "so I made a spreadsheet".

[@mrshannonite4016]

This is the first video of yours I have seen and I'm impressed. I'm now subscribed and itching to watch your entire back catalogue. Thank you :)

[@leewells1871]

Fantastic content and great film. Well worth a little longer wait! Thank you🤓

[@mkendallpk4321]

Paul and Rebecca you did a wonderful job! Very high quality. Looking forward to even more videos like this.

[@zGJungle]

What a great episode, really enjoyed this, always meaning to go and visit some of these ' site of village ' I see on OS maps. And I really like the ending style you used, a strong message and imagery regarding our mark on the landscape and history.

[@shirleylynch7529]

What a work and research you put into this. Excellent. Filming superb. Yes memories will continue. Thank you.

[@martynbuzzing3327]

Still watching indeed. Very well documented and explained. Thanks

[@t.vanoosterhout233]

Fascinating stuff, and a very fine production. The disparity in dates when these villages disappeared tells its own story, I suppose. Looking forward to you realizing some of your future research ideas!

[@golden.lights.twinkle2329]

Great video. Back in the 1970s, I went looking for abandoned villages in Warwickshire. Living outside the UK, I'm amazed that so much of the British countryside is readily accessible. Where I now live, all land is private and jealously guarded with "No Trespassing" notices. Is it legal to metal-detect on those old village sites? If you could locate where the villagers dumped their rubbish, you could possibly find a wealth of disposed of items, like old bottles or earthenware.

[@squeezyjohn1]

Wow ... what a deep message from a video! Thank you.

[@monopod1]

I can’t tell you how much I enjoy this channel. My fieldwork ceased years ago with age and disability. WG Hoskins would have enjoyed this too. “ Fieldwork in local history “ brought up to date with technology, and a real grasp of that technology. Please keep up the good work.

[@ericwilkes1840]

Absolutely stunning video, great work.

[@oldfart6318]

Brilliant. Well done. Told you we'd all still be here.

[@completepreservation]

Absolutely brilliant👍 being a Wiltshire lad, it makes it even more interesting. The editing though, and the graft that must of went into that though 👌👌👌

[@stewartmarshall4112]

One of the best of your videos! Particularly appreciated your thoughts and commentary at the end. You guys are amazing.

[@tomlee812]

Your revised format was so worth waiting for. This was a joy to watch and it was fascinating to reflect on all those places and all those lives. Who knows what signs we will leave for future generations to find. Top marks to both of you.

[@stephenboon7129]

Awesome guys. Love the new format and longer video. Appreciate all the hardwork and effort you both do ❤

[@danielholden-storey5107]

Fascinating but your conclusion was so thoughtful and reflective almost the best part of the whole film. Brilliant work!

[@pwhitewick]

You've probably got a little bit of that to answer for!

[@danielholden-storey5107]

@@pwhitewick Thank-you, that is so kind of you.

[@carlruss6421]

You deserve praise for this video. I love watching your channel. Keep up the good work.

[@ForTheBirbs]

Absolutely fantastic!

[@MY-nh3si]

Thank you for a wonderful film ❤ So glad you are both enjoying the change in format. Looking forward to the next one 😀

[@lindamccaughey6669]

Fantastic explore. Love the English countryside. Video was so well done. Thanks for taking me along. Please take care

[@havingalook2]

Love it! Love old maps and wandering and the research as you have done. I could live at your house!!! LOL Are you good cooks too? Cheers, well done.

[@WagSchofield]

Excellent work guys. The care, thought and dedication you've put into this really shine through.

[@liamfinch4129]

a scholary piece of work for which many thanks!

[@ringspanner]

Excellent, congrats to you both. Evidently a lot of research went into this. The irony of making history by researching and filming history, love it. Looking forward as always to your next adventure. Love and respect from Australia.

[@R08Tam]

"The moving finger writes and having writ moves on" - Omar Kayaam. I love how my dog lives in the moment. We should all do the same.

[@johnekins4408]

Much appreciated, love the work you both do, thank you.

[@pwhitewick]

Thank you

[@stephengirling7859]

Fascinating journey. Beautifully filmed.

[@johnbollen1322]

Wow I really enjoyed that. I find Deserted Villages are a closer connection to the actual people than the places they worked, its their home, their roots. It just goes to show how easily what you think is a permanent place to live can be gone, as you say, over night. Although Time Team has restarted on YT, I feel you have taken over its mantle, specially the levels of research, and I look forward to your vids, just as I used to with TT. The difference being there is just the two of you, so its much appreciated, Thank you!

[@royjennison3916]

well done , great vid , love it

[@simonmcowan6874]

Loved it, quite understand your new approach, ps whilst a hollow way may seem to be only a metre deep, there is probably a metre and a half of 500 years of leaf fall, and natural build up of soil, below the current surface level.

[@janebaker966]

Beautiful film.

[@ncc74656m]

I loved this video! I know how much you want to push the longer format and with this video it's easy to see why. On a personal note, I loved the note about new communities and the inclusion of the queer march and trans flag, and thought it was a nice touch. 💜 Well done.

[@caldrail]

At last! Now I know Bincknoll Castle was a Norman development. I've been up there any number of times on my hikes in the countryside and always wondered who built it. Thanks Paul and Rebecca.

[@markskoda8862]

Very interesting. I lived in Shrewton, the next village along the A344 from 1948 until 1966. There was only a small car park up near the Heel Stone which is near the road and away from the circle. A lady called Mrs. Cook had a tea and sandwiches caravan on the car park. There was certainly no large cafe near the fork in the roads. I seem to remember the cottages, but cannot be sure. Near the stones was a "Woollaway" bungalow owned by Paddy O'Neil who ran a smallholding, and had a few pigs. The A344 is now closed off and the bungalow no longer there. The whole area is now a "visitor attraction", heavily marketed and organised. Avebury has gone the same way.

[@crazycressy7986]

This is why I love metal detecting, we have found out so much in the area we detect ,love going back in time and looking at old maps ,not a lot in the books but the more we search the more we find and find out what lays beneath or feet.

[@ggm02]

2:10 - so pleased to see you are using styles when they are provided. Other users of the countryside should take note. Another top notch video - interesting and informative and well put together. Great stuff.

[@andrewmarch7891]

Brilliant, really informative thank you.

[@billybobbassman]

Worth the wait. Lovely video Paul and Rebecca

[@jeffsuter344]

Brilliant, loved that.

[@IckyTzatziki]

This is a great video, love watching your stuff and hope you will do more in depth stuff like this. Its so well researched and put together and your enthusiasm is infectious!

[@Bender24k]

Excellent! Your enjoyment shows clearly. GREAT new direction, thanks! Worth the wait.

[@Melripley48]

I am very glad you stepped back to provide the "room" you need to produce a high quality post like this. It reminded me of some of the landscape architecture explanations on Time Team episodes that provided me with so much enjoyment at the time. I fully agree with the views you expressed at the end of the post and while it is not a story of my country my interest and pride in what I see is in part explained by my ancestors travelling from Devon to Australia where they arrived in 1841. Some of their descendents are now located in most states of Australia as well as New Zealand & no doubt several other countries as well. Thank you for a thoughtful & interesting post.

[@davefrench3608]

Fascinating film, well done both of you.

[@ste2442]

Absolutely fantastic viewing this , top notch . Well done Paul