Social Structure Medieval villages like Cosmeston were tightly-knit communities governed by the manorial system. The manor lord, in this case the Fleming family, held legal and economic power, overseeing farming, justice, and taxation. Villagers were mostly peasants or serfs, who worked the land in exchange for protection and rights to cultivat

Rediscovery and Excavation The village of Cosmeston was rediscovered in the 20th century during construction works. Archaeologists undertook extensive excavations starting in the 1960s, uncovering remarkable remains of medieval houses, roads, and artifacts. These excavations transformed Cosmeston into one of the best-preserved medieval village

Origins and Development The earliest documentary references to Cosmeston date back to the 12th century, though archaeological evidence suggests settlement may have existed earlier. The village developed around a manor and a church, a typical pattern in medieval England and Wales, where manorialism shaped rural society. The manor of Cosmeston wa

Introduction The medieval period, often romanticized as the "Middle Ages," was a complex era spanning roughly from the 5th to the late 15th century. Across Europe, countless villages and towns grew, each with their own unique stories reflecting the social, economic, and political life of the time. One such remarkable example is the medieval villag