Monument record 600/3/10 - Probable fishponds

Fish ponds thought to have originated in the medieval period associated with the priory and subsequently served as garden features in the post-medieval period

{1} A walkover survey and core sampling was undertaken over the two surviving ponds. Six of the 14 cores were submitted for pollen analysis and four for plant macrofossil analysiswhich determined that the ponds were situated within an open graxed/agricultural landscape when they were silting up.

{2} As a result of the investigation, it has been determined that all three ponds were dug into the natural clay geology, with no evidence of any additional lining. A timber and stone channel was identified between Ponds 1 and 2 and a brick-built conduit was present within the northern bank of Pond 3, which appeared to run from Pond 2, although no trace of the structure was observed within the northern bank of Pond 2. The timber capping of the channel was radiocarbon dated to 1388 AD (+/- 30), indicating that it might have been constructed when the ponds were first dug. A possible wooden sluice was also present in the southern bank of Pond 3; this was radiocarbon dated to 1875 AD (+/- 30). All features were preserved in situ. Finds from the ponds did not pre-date the 20th century indicating they had been dredged and maintained until the mid-20th century. Historic photos show that the ponds were still holding water in 1949. A further photograph dated 1977 shows the ponds silted with no apparent surface water.

<1> Strafford, L & May, R, 2014, Archaeological Investigations at Canons Ashby, Northamptonshire: Walkover Survey and Palaeoenvironmental Sampling Report (Report). SNN113790.

<2> ArcHeritage, 2016, Archaeological watching brief at the Stew Ponds, Canons Ashby, Northamptonshire, 2016, checked (Report). SNN110339.

Record last edited

Jun 19 2024 12:41PM