Building record 1974/2/7 - Extent of manor house land in 1587

Extent of lands associated with Manor Farm in the late 16th century

{1} The map of 1587 appears to define quite precisely the extent of the former medieval manorial enclosure held by the Seymour family from the late 12th to the late 14th centuries. The map has been transcribed to an OS base, but inevitably the transcription may contain errors of a few metres. In particular, the map shows buildings pictorially; these have been transcribed as plan outlines but with some consequent errors in their locations.

{3} Garden remains (SP 85086971) lie immediately SW of the manor and S of the church. They consist of a simple rectangular enclosure extending SW from the manor house and bounded only by a shallow ditch or scarp. The enclosure appears to coincide with the boundary of an elaborate formal knot garden which is depicted on the 1587 map of the parish. This was probably laid out in 1567-8 by Thomas Neally who appoears, from his arms which are on an overmantle in the manor house [SP 86 NE 9], to have altered the building at that time.

<1> Chapman, A., 1996, Manor Farm, Hardwick, Northamptonshire Archaeological Evaluation Stage 1: Desktop Assessment, (checked) (Report). SNN72411.

<2> 1587, Map of Hardwick, (unchecked) (Map). SNN47295.

<3> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, P. 70 (Series). SNN77380.

Record last edited

Feb 17 2025 7:15PM