Grayingham was once a much larger place and there are many remains of old buildings and isolated wells. Grayingham is mentioned in 1086, and Little Grayingham in 1316. Grayingham is a modern village with evidence of shrinkage. {1}{3}{6}{7} The field to the north-west of the village was levelled and ploughed in March 1969. There were four occupation areas in walled crofts exposed. Pottery found was mainly medieval, including northern Stamford ware, grey gritty wares, and decorated Humber wares. There was some post medieval pottery found. {2}{5} The settlement remains of Grayingham lay within the limit mapped in 1691 as 'the towne and yards of Graingham'. Earthworks in the north-west of the area, comprising four occupation areas in walled crofts, were destroyed in 1969 and produced much medieval and a little post medieval pottery in field walking. Former properties south of the church have also been levelled or built over and medieval pottery recovered. A series of four dead-end lanes that in the early 19th century sprang west off the north-south through road have been reduced to two. This may represent the reorientation of this part of the settlement, in circumstances of reduced population and abandoned plots from an east-west axis with two rows of properties served by the most prominent of these streets to a dependence on the north-south road via ad hoc lanes. But with such losses, little further sense can be made of the settlement's morphology and development. In terms of population it was at its largest in the earlier medieval period; it was much reduced in the late 14th century, and though nil relief is returned in the 15th century, in 1453 the parishioners were said to be 'few in number and deficient in culture'. That recovery was indeed limited is confirmed by later figures, and in 1616 14 untenanted or empty tofts were listed in the Kirton Soke property alone. The parish was evidently enclosed in or soon after 1691. {4} Finds of medieval pottery have been reported from all over the village, particularly around the church. {10}