Monument record 1679/6/1 - Fishponds

Earthworks of medieval fishponds immediately north of the castle.

{1}{2}{3} There were at least two separate groups of fishponds in the manor. One group of ponds lay in the rabbit warren and are depicted on Norden's map of 1591 and the various 18th and 19th century maps of the town. The 1591 survey shows that the fishponds in the warren were still managed and the ponds in the warren may prove to have been in origin the pond referred to in 1298 in the garden associated with the capital messuage. In 1313-14 the grass around the fishponds was worth 4/- and a fisherman was employed, but it is not possible to determine which ponds are being described.

{6} Aerial photos taken in 1947 show the area in use as allotments but traces of a possible rectangular pond are visible immediately north west of the end of the north arch of the fishpond.

{7} Earthworks of medieval fishponds immediately north of the castle. A water-filled L-shaped pond 30m wide by 2.5m deep with a rectangular pond/ depression at the north side, now levelled. 2 other small ponds, 1 square and 1 rectangular on the south side of the west end of the moat. A different layout shows 2 separate rectangular ponds joined by a narrow channel with other rectangular ponds in the angle of the moat.

{8} By 1789 the fishponds had been enlarged and extended to their present form.

<1> Foard G.; Ballinger J., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Higham Ferrers (Medieval - Industrial), (unchecked) (Digital archive). SNN100543.

<2> 1591, Bibliotheque Nationale Paris, Mss 706 Anglais, Acq. Nouv. No.58, (unchecked) (Map). SNN100545.

<3> Bainbridge T., 1789, Higham Ferrers, 1789 (NRO Map 1000), (unchecked) (Map). SNN100544.

<4> BROWN A.E., 1967, Higham Ferrers Castle: South Scarp of Moat and Paddock, (unchecked) (Plan). SNN105106.

<5> Taylor P., 1992, Fishponds Report 1992, (checked) (Report). SNN1339.

<6> Royal Air Force, 1940s, RAF Vertical Aerial Photographs, RAF VAP CPE/UK/1926 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN105266.

<7> NORDEN, 1610, MAP, (unchecked) (Map). SNN45536.

<8> BAINBRIDGE, 1789, MAP, (unchecked) (Map). SNN45529.

Record last edited

Nov 25 2024 2:15PM