Monument record 9947 - Upton Fishponds

Three linked fishponds, probably medieval.

Fishponds (SP 715599), lie in Upton Park, 300 m. S.S.W. of Upton Hall and 300 m. W. of SP 75 NW 26 on Upper Lias Clay, between 68 m. and 80 m. above OD.

They consist of three linked ponds extending in a line down the hillside and terminated by a larger more regular pond lying across the slope. They are all probably of medieval date. The ponds were supplied by a spring which emerges to the N. of the site, at the junction of the Northampton Sands and the Upper Lias Clay. The water now feeds a circular pond of 19th century date, but a broad ditch emerges from beneath the latter and once carried water into the uppermost of the fishponds. This is rectangular and up to 1.5 m. deep At its S. end are the remains of its earthern dam which divided it from the next pond; this is also roughly rectangular and 1.5 m. deep and has the stub-ends of broken dam at its S. end. Below it is the third, larger, rectangular pond, of similar depth, whcih has a broad ditch entering it in its N.E. corner. This again has the remains of a dam on the S. beyond which is a larger irregular pond, much damaged by later alterations and modern dumping, and cut across at its W. end by the 18th or 19th century park wall. A shallow rectangular basin in its N.E. corner may have been a breeding tank. Slight earthwork to the E. and N.E. of this pond, including mounds and scarps are enclosed by a low bank which cuts across earlier ridge-and-furrow.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1985, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.410/Site 8 (checked) (Series). SNN77383.

<2> Shaw M., 1990, Archaeological Evaluation At Upton, Northampton (South West District), (checked) (Report). SNN102374.

Record last edited

Feb 5 2025 7:18PM