These villages sprung up on the landed estates of the gentry, mostly from the 18th century onwards when large numbers of staff were needed to work in the houses, gardens, parkland and estate businesses. Workers were given tenancies on their cottages and in some case commercial premises such as shops. In Yorkshire, many of these villages are still overwhelmingly owned by the family at the ‘great house’, such as the Worsleys of Hovingham Hall. Others are part of an estate where the house has been sold off or demolished but the surrounding land and farms remain in the family or a trust, such as Wentworth near Rotherham, which is managed separately to Wentworth Woodhouse. Others are no longer owned by any estate, but retain their historic features and are still well-preserved.
13. Wykeham
Wykeham is part of the Viscounts Downes' Dawnay Estates. The seat is Wykeham Abbey, near Scarborough, and there are 120 estate cottages built before 1900 spread across Wykeham and Rudston, and Danby near Whitby. Wedding venue Danby Castle and various commercial buildings are part of the estate too. Photo: Richard Ponter
14. Bugthorpe
Bugthorpe and Kirby Underdale in the East Riding are the historic heart of the Halifax family's Garrowby Estate in the Yorkshire Wolds. The estate villages are protected and home to numerous properties owned by the family. Photo: Frank Wilkinson
15. Ripley
Ripley, near Harrogate, is still mostly owned by the Ingilby baronets of Ripley Castle. Their portfolio includes the pub, The Boar's Head, and shops in former estate outbuildings. Some of the cottages have been sold on the open market in recent years. Photo: Tony Johnson
16. Hawnby
Hawnby, near Helmsley, is part of the Savile family's holdings. Titled Earls of Mexborough, they live at nearby Arden Hall, but in the past they were mostly associated with Methley Hall, their former seat near Leeds that was demolished in the 1950s. They still own farmland around Methley as well as properties in Hawnby which are let out. Photo: Photographer 1