Monument record 710/1 - Old Mountains moated site

Manorial earthworks, moated site, possible park-keeper's lodge, including remains of a fishpond and dam and other earthworks near the western edge of Helmdon deer park.

{1} Possible manor site, referred to in no. 753 of the Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem dated 30/06/1492: at least 2 manors in Astwell; Astwell 'Castle' likely to be 'Brookes' Manor and the moated site 'Billinges' Manor

{2} Old Mountains (NAT)
(SP 616430) Moat (LB) (extensive earthworks shown)

{3} Moat and fishponds (SP 615430). The complex lies near the west edge of Helmdon deer park [SP 64 SW 14] and the roughly rectangular moated enclosure may be the site of a park keepers lodge. The moated site is a roughly rectangular flat island 0.5 m–1 m above the surrounding land and separated from the adjacent ditch on the north, east and south by a bank only 0.5 m high. The ditch is 1.5 m deep on the east and 2 m deep on the north, but appears to have been filled in on the south. The west side of the site is difficult to understand and may be the result of later alterations. The ditch here is 1.5 m deep and runs obliquely north-north-east to south-south-west, with no trace of an inner bank. To the east of the ditch there are two rectangular depressions, perhaps former ponds, and to the west there is a triangular area 1.5 m high. This may be the original west edge of the site detached from the main part by the later ditch. At the south-west corner is a large circular mound almost 2 m high, linked to the corner of the moat by low causeways. The moat was apparently filled by a small stream which entered it in the north-west corner.

To the south west of the moat there was a fishpond, perhaps contemporary. The field in which it lay was called Pool Meadow in 1864 and this field is bounded on the south by a dam spanning the valley. On the east side of the stream, which is now culverted, the dam is a massive bank nearly 3 m. high, but its east end has been destroyed and only its outer face remains as a low scarp. To the west of the stream the dam has been ploughed down and survives only as a broad bank 1m high. Old OS plans show a ditch at its west end which continued the line of the dam and then returned east before curving back north west. This feature has now been completely destroyed by modern cultivation. However, there is some doubt whether it was a ditch as depicted, for air photographs taken in 1947 {4} before the destruction was complete appear to show a massive east-facing scarp. Whatever its original form the feature probably marked the west edge of the pond. When filled this pond probably extended east to a broad low scarp north east of the dam and to the south of the moat. It also probably extended northwards beyond a low bank, now ploughed down, which runs from the south west corner of the moat in a westerly direction.

{7} On the north-west side of the field containing the large fishpond is a warren consisting of two pillow mounds. One mound 15m long lies from north to south and the second mound 55m long lies east to west; both mounds are between 1.5m and 2m high. The larger is by a ditch which may be a later alteration. The ditch aligns with the close boundary of the deer park. There is a circular mound 2m high at the south west corner of the site. It is linked to the interior by low causeways.

{9} The banks and ditches outside the wood (which is of a typical moated manor house shape) are clearly visible, particularly those to the SW of the wood.

The earthworks within the wood {4} remain in good condition, but those in the adjacent fields are mostly under plough and are, in places, nearly level.

See annnotated 25" survey.

{10} The earthwork consists of an approximately square bank averaging 20' in breadth and 5'6" in height with a much silted ditch on the outer side, with at least the bank and ditch of similar dimensions crossing inside it from NW to SE. It lies entirely in a wood of extremely close undergrowth. A slight bank about 500
yards in length approaches it from the N but does not actually connect with it. Its ditch is on the E side. There are faint traces of other smaller banks projecting from the wood on its W side.

<1> 1988, Correspondence with South Northants Council, (unchecked) (Letter). SNN51803.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1958, OS 6 Inch Mapping Series (SP64SW), (unchecked) (Map). SNN57371.

<3> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.86 site 11 (unchecked) (Series). SNN77382.

<4> Royal Air Force, Vertical Aerial Photography, APs (RAF CPE/UK/1926 3224 5) (Photographs). SNN104890.

<5> Ordnance Survey 25" to 1 mile, (unchecked) (Map). SNN57369.

<6> 1864, Northants Record Office map including Helmdon 1864, (unchecked) (Map). SNN14568.

<7> English Heritage, 1992, English Heritage Scheduling Notification, (part checked) (Report). SNN47128.

<8> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs, NCCAP:SP6143/001-2 (Photographs). SNN104822.

<9> Seaman, B H, 1970, Field Investigator's Comments, F1 BHS 10-FEB-70 (Notes). SNN111541.

<10> Annotated Record Map, Rec 6" 15.3.48 (R J C Atkinson) (Map). SNN112961.

Record last edited

Feb 1 2024 12:12PM