Monument record 3030/2/2 - Formal manor gardens (Morphed Aerial Archaeology Interpretation)

Earthwork: Non-destructive fieldwork

{2} The site is remarkably well preered and the apparent remains of flower-beds are notable. The main garden lay east of the house and comrpised a large rectangular flat area which was cut down into the natural hillside leaving massive scarps and terraces. Survey of garden remains.

{4} Here was an ancient seat belonging to the family of Cecil at a small distance from the church, demolished about 30 years ago. Remains of terraces yet visible in the garden.

{3} At Wakerley a new house was built soon after 1613 for Sir Richard Cecil, second son of the first Earl of Exeter, and a remarkable garden laid out around it. The house was demolished in 1633 on Cecil’s death and again the land was returned to pasture. This grass land preserved all the details including the arrangement of the flower beds. Plates 5+6 and Fig.5.

{8} Medieval/post medieval settlement earthworks recorded as part of the Rockingham Forest Project survey. Hall's mapped area corresponds with the medieval/post medieval manor and its post medieval formal gardens.

<1> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs, Used with NMR & CUCAP collections (Photographs). SNN104822.

<2> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1975, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.105 site 4 (unchecked) (Series). SNN77379.

<3> Taylor C., 1983, The Archaeology of Gardens, p.16-17 (checked) (Series). SNN41440.

<4> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Book). SNN100366.

<5> Binney M.; Hills A., 1979, Elysian Gardens, 12 (Article). SNN42578.

<6> Steane J., 1974, The Northamptonshire Landscape, p.383 (unchecked) (Book). SNN5137.

<7> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1976, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1975, 11/203 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN169.

<8> Hall D.N., 1960-1999, Rockingham Forest Project: Archaeological Sites Recorded by David Hall, (unchecked) (Database). SNN102279.

Record last edited

Aug 30 2013 1:41PM