Dispersed settlement
Encyclopedia
A dispersed settlement is one of the main types of settlement patterns used by landscape historians
to classify rural
settlements found in England
and other parts of the world.
In a typical dispersed settlement, there are a number of separate farmsteads scattered throughout the area. A dispersed settlement contrasts with a nucleated village
.
In England, dispersed settlements are often found in the areas of ancient enclosure outside the central region - for example, Essex
, Kent
and the West Country
. An example of a dispersed settlement given by W G Hoskins is Middle Barton in Oxfordshire
.
In some parts of England, the pattern of dispersed settlement has remained unchanged for many hundreds of years. It is sometimes possible to identify documentary references to farmsteads in the 18th or 19th centuries with entries in Domesday .
In areas of Kent and Essex close to London, development of residential housing during the 20th century has often disguised the dispersed nature of the original settlement.
The farmsteads which make up the dispersed settlement are often surrounded by small irregularly shaped fields. Traditionally, trees are encouraged to grow at the edges of these fields and in thin strips alongside roads. However, during the 20th century, much of this woodland disappeared, either as a result of disease or modern farming practice. Arthur Young's description of the view from Langdon Hills
- "dark lanes intersected with numberless hedges and woods" - is a typical description of the landscape in an area of dispersed settlements. The French term Bocage
is sometimes used to describe the type of landscape found in those parts of the south of England where dispersed settlements are common.
Anthony Galt has written an extensive study of the dispersed settlement pattern around Locorotondo
in the Province of Bari
in southern Italy. In this case, the settlement pattern developed because of movement from the town to the countryside in the 19th century. Emphyteutic leases
were used by landowners seeking to increase their income from land that was only marginally attractive for agriculture by encouraging the creation of vineyards.
Landscape history
Landscape history is the study of the way in which humanity has changed the physical appearance of the environment - both present and past. It is sometimes referred to as landscape archaeology...
to classify rural
Rural
Rural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...
settlements found in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and other parts of the world.
In a typical dispersed settlement, there are a number of separate farmsteads scattered throughout the area. A dispersed settlement contrasts with a nucleated village
Nucleated village
A nucleated village is one of the main types of settlement pattern found in England and other parts of the world. It is one of the terms used by landscape historians to classify settlements. An idealised village, in which the houses cluster around a central church which is often close to the...
.
In England, dispersed settlements are often found in the areas of ancient enclosure outside the central region - for example, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
and the West Country
West Country
The West Country is an informal term for the area of south western England roughly corresponding to the modern South West England government region. It is often defined to encompass the historic counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset and the City of Bristol, while the counties of...
. An example of a dispersed settlement given by W G Hoskins is Middle Barton in Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
.
In some parts of England, the pattern of dispersed settlement has remained unchanged for many hundreds of years. It is sometimes possible to identify documentary references to farmsteads in the 18th or 19th centuries with entries in Domesday .
In areas of Kent and Essex close to London, development of residential housing during the 20th century has often disguised the dispersed nature of the original settlement.
The farmsteads which make up the dispersed settlement are often surrounded by small irregularly shaped fields. Traditionally, trees are encouraged to grow at the edges of these fields and in thin strips alongside roads. However, during the 20th century, much of this woodland disappeared, either as a result of disease or modern farming practice. Arthur Young's description of the view from Langdon Hills
Langdon Hills
Langdon Hills is a town located in the Basildon district of Essex, England. It is contiguous with the Basildon continuous urban area.It is located south of Laindon railway station on the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway. It is the location of the Langdon Hills Country Park, which is in the...
- "dark lanes intersected with numberless hedges and woods" - is a typical description of the landscape in an area of dispersed settlements. The French term Bocage
Bocage
Bocage is a Norman word which has entered both the French and English languages. It may refer to a small forest, a decorative element of leaves, a terrain of mixed woodland and pasture, or a type of rubble-work, comparable with the English use of 'rustic' in relation to garden...
is sometimes used to describe the type of landscape found in those parts of the south of England where dispersed settlements are common.
Anthony Galt has written an extensive study of the dispersed settlement pattern around Locorotondo
Locorotondo
Locorotondo is a comune in the Province of Bari, Italy, with a population of c. 14,000. The city is known for its wines and for its round historical center, from which derives its name, meaning "Round place"...
in the Province of Bari
Province of Bari
The Province of Bari is a province in the Apulia region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Bari.It has an area of 5,138 km², and a total population of 1,594,109 . There are 48 comuni in the province, see Comuni of the Province of Bari...
in southern Italy. In this case, the settlement pattern developed because of movement from the town to the countryside in the 19th century. Emphyteutic leases
Emphyteusis
The Law of Emphyteusis is a right, susceptible of assignment and of descent, charged on productive real estate, the right being coupled with the enjoyment of the property on condition of taking care of the estate and paying taxes, and sometimes the payment of a small rent.Akin to a system of...
were used by landowners seeking to increase their income from land that was only marginally attractive for agriculture by encouraging the creation of vineyards.