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.
5. Ledsham and Ledston
These two villages near Castleford were part of the Ledston Hall estate, and there are still over 30 cottages and a number of tenant farms owned by the Wheler Foundation, who took responsibility for the estate after the death of the last Wheler in 2004. One of their holdings is The Chequers Inn, whose landlords were not allowed to open on Sundays until 10 years ago because a past lady of the manor had closed the pub when she was insulted by some farm workers on the Lord's Day. The hall itself is being converted into apartments. Photo: Jonathan Gawthorpe
6. Goldsborough
Goldsborough, near Knaresborough, was once part of the Harewood Estate, and Goldsborough Hall was a secondary seat of the Earls of Harewood. In the 1920s, Princess Mary lived there when she married into the Lascelles family. The village church witnessed the baptism of her son George, future Earl of Harewood, which was attended by King George V, the baby's grandfather. They sold the house to a school and the village at auction in the early 1950s, with many tenants purchasing their homes. The hall is now a B&B. Photo: Marcus Corazzi
7. Hooton Pagnell
Hooton Pagnell, between Doncaster and Barnsley, is a time capsule in an industrial former coalfield area. The hall is still owned by the Warde-Norbury family, whose ancestors, the Warde-Aldams, had the estate from the 1700s. They have converted it into a hotel and wedding venue, but still own many farms and properties in the area. Much of the family's past wealth came from their ownership of Frickley Colliery. The village pub used to be a hostel for theological students. Photo: MEL HULME
8. Sledmere
Once painted by David Hockney, Sledmere is the estate village for Sledmere House near Driffield - the home of the Sykes baronets. The house is now a major visitor attraction, but estate and farm workers are still prioritised for tenancies on the cottages, known for their distinctive white stone and red paintwork. Photo: Terry Carrott