Monument record 2442/0/5 - Park pale, Grafton deer park

Earthwork remains of the medieval park pale

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

{2} The general outline of the present wood must represent the area of the later park at least, though little trace of a park pale can be seen, partly because of extensive disturbance, especially on the S. side, by hutments of a Second World War airfield. The pale is best preserved along the W. side of the wood (SP 93148110–93148163), where there is an almost continuous bank, 5 m.-7 m. wide and 0.5 m. high, but with no trace of a ditch apart from modern drains. In the N.W. corner of the wood (at SP 932817) is a small triangular field, obviously once part of the park and known as Wood Close in 1728 (Map in NRO). However there is no trace of a bank on either its E. or W. side, or along the N. or N.E. edge of Park Wood beyond (SP 93328187–93708179). Along the E. edge of the wood (SP 93708179–93898109) a bank is visible, though much damaged by later activity. Where best preserved it is some 7 m.-9 m. wide and 1 m. high, but there are no indications of a ditch. Further S. (SP 93898109– 93788080) there is a bank, 5 m. wide and only 0.25 m. high, which may be a parish boundary bank between Cranford and Grafton. Along the S. of Park Wood all trace of a boundary bank is lost as a result of the wartime hutments, but the name Grafton Park Furlong given to a block of strip fields immediately S. of the wood on a map of 1758 (NRO) indicates that the park boundary lay along the edge of the wood.

<1> Hall D.N., 1960-1999, Rockingham Forest Project: Archaeological Sites Recorded by David Hall, Mapinfo Data Layer (checked) (Database). SNN102279.

<2> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p. 52/Site 4 (Series). SNN77380.

Record last edited

Sep 26 2022 3:58PM