Monument record 1665 - Old Withington

The placemane of Old Withington is first mentioned in 1185. 'Old Withington' is distinct from Lower Withington and was separated in the 13th century. The name now survives in Withington Hall, park and pool. The original reference may have been to the manor. It could also indicate the presence of a deserted medieval settlement. Medieval and later villages were abandoned by their inhabitants for many reasons. The effects of disease and poor harvests made rural living difficult, and whole communities are thought to have relocated to urban settlements. Landowners sometimes relocated settlements for aesthetic reasons and for landscaping. Once abandoned the villages quickly became derelict and were not inhabited again surviving only as earthworks, often visible only from aerial photographs. They can also be identified by documentary evidence or the presence of a church where there is no settlement.