Monument record 2442 - Grafton Medieval Deer Park

Deer park, C14th, remains

{1} Documentary evidence of a medieval deer park. In 1343 Simon Simeon was granted licence to enclose his wood at Grafton in the Forest of Rockingham 'with a low dyke and low hedge'; not allowed a deer leap?

{4} Deer Park centred SP 935814. License to enclose woods obtained by Simon Simeon 1343, with license to empark (without a deer leap) granted in 1348. Possibly extended in 1450 by Henry Greene. The manor was disafforested in 1639. Few traces of the park pale remain, chiefly on the W and E boundaries where a bank 5-7 m. wide and 0.5
m. high on the W and 7-9m. wide by 1 m. high on the E can be traced. A triangular field on the NE corner may have formed part of the park.

{5} In the early 15th century Henry Greene was granted licence to impark;

Sitename: Grafton Wood?

{7} Simon Simeon was licensed to enclose his wood of Grafton within the Forest of Rockingham with a little dyke and low hedge and he could sell the underwood as often as he pleased provided that sufficient covert be left for the king's deer. In 1348, the licence was confirmed to impark, provided that he made no deer leap.

<1> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1974, Archaeology In Northamptonshire 1973, 9/103-5 (Article). SNN9109.

<2> STEANE J.M., 1975, The Medieval Parks of Northamptonshire, p.217 & 220 (Article). SNN37713.

<3> STEANE J., 1974, Survey Report: Some Medieval Parks in Northamptonshire, p.24 (unchecked) (Newsletter). SNN37717.

<4> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, (unchecked) (Series). SNN77380.

<5> 1427-1516, CALENDAR OF CHARTER ROLLS, 113 (Uncertain). SNN45351.

<6> Calendar of Patent Rolls, 1348-1350/57 (unchecked) (Document). SNN978.

<7> Foard, G.; Hall, D. & Partida, T., 2009, Rockingham Forest: An atlas of the medieval and early-modern landscape, p. 221-2 (Book). SNN106598.

<8> Gover J.E.B.; Mawer A.; Stenton F.M. (Eds.), 1933, The Place-names of Northamptonshire, p. 182 (Series). SNN5881.

<9> Page W. (ed), 1930, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire- The Borough of Northampton, p. 204-5 (Series). SNN100370.

<10> 1728, Map of Broughton, Includes Grafton Park (Map). SNN33205.

<11> Rowley R.T.; Fowler W.J. (Editors), 1974, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter (4), p. 24 (Newsletter). SNN17341.

<12> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1974, Archaeology In Northamptonshire 1973, p. 105 (Article). SNN9109.

Record last edited

Jan 31 2025 3:49PM