It was inhabited for around 500 unbroken years, with an impressive stone church at its heart. 

But Wharram Percy is now a “ghost village”, the ruins of a medieval church surrounded by fields all that remain. It has been described as holding a “secret so grisly you’ll scarcely be able to believe it”.  

In 15th-century Yorkshire, wool was the equivalent of money. At that time, Wharram Percy, which had been a village occupied by peasant farmers in the heart of rural Yorkshire roughly halfway between York and Scarborough since at least the 10th century, saw a significant decline in population.

The modest rent paid by these farmers to local baron, William Hylton, paled in comparison to the potential profits from wool and by around 1500, Baron Hylton had evicted his final tenants, although some smallholders and shepherds remained.

One stubborn resident who refused to leave met his end when his house collapsed. By 1527, the last arable strips were converted into sheep pastures.

Traces of a number of lost houses remain, their silhouettes scattered across the fields surrounding the church. For decades archaeologists have tested pioneering ways of fieldwork at the site, uncovering how Britons in the area once lived.

Relics and clues about this have been found, but one discovery back in the 1960s changed everything and shocked researchers. While digging at the site, they came across a pit of human remains. It caught their eye not because of its nature but because of its location.

A fair way from the local church and graveyard where the inhabitants would, and should, have been buried researchers were at a loss as to why there was a separate place of rest.

The find was explored by the Smithsonian Channel in a documentary called Mystic Britain. Presenter Clive Anderson noted that the village “holds a secret so grisly you’ll scarcely be able to believe it.”

Dr Stuart Wrathmell, an archaeologist who specialises in medieval settlements, told Anderson that the burial site hinted at a “darker” side of life. Describing it as a “disturbing discovery”, Dr Wrathmell said: “There is one find that we made which was a pit just here, which contained over 100 human bones. It’s a bit strange because most people in the village, you would think, would be buried down in the churchyard.

“It was thought at the time when this pit was found in 1963 that it must be before the medieval period because we knew Romans were living nearby, so it could be prehistoric or Roman bones.

“Some of them were radiocarbon dated and found to be medieval when everyone should have been buried in the churchyard, and not out here in the farmstead.”

The researchers hint that the people whose bones were found likely met a violent and untimely end compared to their neighbours found buried in the churchyard. 

How to get to ‘ghost village’ Wharram Percy

English Heritage says Wharram Percy is “undoubtedly the most famous” medieval village in the UK, and its remote location means reaching it is something of an adventure in itself. 

A six-mile drive along the B1248 through the rolling Yorkshire Wolds leads to a turn on the right near the road’s summit, which offers expansive views. From there, it’s just a short distance down a single-track L-shaped lane to the English Heritage car park.

Parking costs £2, but is free for English Heritage members. The car park, footpath, and site remain open until dusk.

The journey to the village involves a 25-minute stroll down a narrow yet solid chalk path, crossing a cattle field, a beck and a disused railway line. The final leg of the journey is a short but steep climb up to the village.

While the walk is manageable for those who are physically able, it’s not recommended for individuals with mobility issues. It’s a dog-friendly route, but pets must be kept on leads due to the presence of livestock.

Upon nearing St Martin’s Church, the only remaining structure in the village, one can visualise where the peasants’ cottages once stood, thanks to numerous information boards featuring artists’ impressions of the village.

The stone church dates back to the early to mid-12th century. An earlier wooden church is believed to have occupied the site, although no remnants have been discovered.

The stone church underwent several expansions, reaching its largest size in the early 15th century.

Today, St Martin’s stands as a roofless ruin, but visitors can still enter and admire the chancel and the remains of the tower. Inside, another informative board provides artists’ impressions of the church during various stages of its history.

Outside, several gravestones from the 18th century can be found. Beyond the churchyard lies a duckpond, fed by an unnamed stream originating from a nearby spring.