Monument record 1453/0/2 - Earthworks of the park pale, Biggin Hall Deer Park

The enclosing banks of the medieval park are visible for most of its circumference. The bank is still up to 2m high and 8m wide with traces of an inner ditch. Earthworks of a bank and ditch were observed during field survey. Much of the boundary remains visible on lidar imagery. This medieval deer park is one of the best preserved in the county.

{1} Earthworks recorded by aerial photography. The enclosing bank of the deer park is still preserved, with occasional traces of an inner ditch. The bank is c.2m high x 8m wide. Plan showing almost entire circuit of park pale Fig 81.

{3} A 20ft deer leap is documented in 1307. The fence of the park can readily be traced alongside the road from Oundle to Benefield in the spinney and so across the park behind the house.

{4} NCCAP:TL0189/006-13.

{5} Bank and ditch earthwork observed. (RFP Rapid Survey?)

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1975, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.71/Site 13 (checked) (Series). SNN77379.

<2> Environment Agency, LIDAR Composite DTM - 1m, Accessed 23/02/2026 (Digital Plots). SNN111710.

<2> 1911, Northamptonshire Notes and Queries (New Series), p.25-6 (unchecked) (Series). SNN56432.

<3> STEANE J.M., 1975, The Medieval Parks of Northamptonshire, p.219 (checked) (Article). SNN37713.

<4> Northamptonshire HER Collection of Aerial Photographs, (unchecked) (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN104822.

<5> Hall D.N., 1960-1999, Rockingham Forest Project: Archaeological Sites Recorded by David Hall, Mapinfo Data Layer (checked) (Database). SNN102279.

Record last edited

Feb 23 2026 11:21AM