Cratley facts for kids
Cratley was a village in Nottinghamshire, England, that no longer exists. People aren't sure exactly where it was, but it might have been near a place called North Laithes Farm in Kneesall. It was also known by other names like Cratela or Creilage.
Cratley in the Domesday Book
The Domesday Book, a famous survey from 1086, mentions Cratley, calling it Crastell. This important historical record tells us that 24 families lived there, which was quite a lot for a village at that time! These families included 22 villagers and 2 smallholders. They had many plough teams with oxen to farm the land.
Who Owned Cratley?
In 1066, the Lord of the Manor (the main landowner) was Ulf Fenman. By 1086, the land was owned by Gilbert de Gant, Earl of Lincoln. He was a very important person who held his land directly from the King or Queen. Cratley was actually a smaller part of a larger estate, with its main manor house located in Wellow.
Why Cratley Disappeared
Cratley didn't stay a village for long. Soon after Rufford Abbey was built in 1147 by Gilbert de Gant, Earl of Lincoln, Cratley was changed into a grange. A grange was like a farm that belonged to the abbey, run by monks or their workers. The people living in Cratley were slowly moved out and resettled in nearby Wellow. This is why Cratley became a "lost village."
