Monument record 638/1/3 - Medieval Fishponds

Four fishponds probably associated with Daventry Priory. All that survives of these four large fish ponds is a fragmentary scarp along the South side of the natural valley. In broad terms this feature represents the diversion of the water supply along the South side of the pond complex to act as a by-pass channel. The feature has been variously disturbed by modern dumping, hege banks and by later earthmoving associated with the levelling of playing fields along the valley.

{2} FISHPONDS (centred SP 578623; Fig. 56), now entirely destroyed by building developments and playing fields, lay in the valley of a small N.E.-flowing stream immediately S.E. of the old town centre of Daventry on Middle Lias Clay at about 135 m. above OD. The only indication of their form comes from OS records and air photographs (RAF VAP CPE/UK/1994, 2269-70) on which Fig. 56 is based. Nothing is known of their history, but they are probably to be associated with the Cluniac Priory of Daventry.

The fishponds consisted of four roughly rectangular ponds cut down into the valley bottom and separated by dams. No dimensions are known except that the dam between the 2nd and 3rd fishpond from the north was 1.6m high and the scarp along the south west side of the upper pond was 1m high. The original stream through the valley was diverted to pass along the south and south east sides of the ponds.
Nothing is known of the fishponds' history but they are probably to be associated with the Cluniac Priory.

{3} All that remains of this feature is a large fragmentary scarp along the south side of the natural valley. This represents the diversion of the water supply along the south side of the pond complex to act as a bypass channel. The scarp probably represents a recutting of the natural valley scarp.

{6,7} (SP 579626) Fish Ponds (NR).
(SP 577622) Fish Ponds (NR) (Remains of).

Resurveyed at 1:2500. See notes on plan. A string of at least four large fish ponds, divided by the railway, and in very poor condition generally. See annotated 25" survey. Probably associated with Daventry Priory.

{8} As described by {2} all that survives of these four large fish ponds is a frgmentary scarp along the S side of the
natural valley. In broad terms this feature represents the diversion of the water supply along the S side of the pond complex to act as a by-pass channel. The feature has been variously disturbed by modern dumping, hege banks and by later earthmoving associated with the levelling of playing fields along the valley.

The scarp (0.6m high) probably represents a recutting of the natural valley scarp, although fine assessment is impossible due to the condition of the feature.

To the N a shallow disk 9.3m deep represents the continuation of the by-pass channel, although it has been extremely disturbed and re-cut in modern times. Further N still, the feature attains a depth of some 2.0m, but here, too, its original form must remain somewhat suspect.

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

<2> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1981, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.68 site 30 (checked) (Series). SNN77381.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP56SE12(1) (checked) (Index). SNN443.

<4> Smith, D., 1969, Fieldwork and Observation in South and Central Northamptonshire, 3/1 (checked) (Article). SNN8978.

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

<6> Phillips, AS, 1962, Field Investigators Comments, F1 ASP 03-MAY-62 (Note). SNN113328.

<7> Seaman, BH, 1969, Field investigators comments, F2 BHS 09-JAN-69 (Notes). SNN111907.

<8> Wilson-North, R, 1986, Field Investigator's Comments, F3 WRWN 20-NOV-86 (Notes). SNN113045.

<9> Royal Air Force, Vertical Aerial Photography, APs (A VAP CPE/UK/1994, 2269-70) (Photographs). SNN104890.

<10> RCHME, Undated, RCHME Inventory: Northamptonshire II (Central), 889241 (Archive). SNN112900.

Record last edited

Feb 4 2025 7:23PM