Monument record 1229/12 - King's Copse

Area of medieval woodland with earthworks of boundary bank and ditch. Part of Whittlewood Forest

{1} King's Copse is currently divided into two blocks, separated by a modern ride. The eastern, western and southern bounds appear medieval in origin. The ride separating King's Copse from Bear's Copse has been straightened and narrowed but the original sinuous coppice bank survives in large part just inside the woodland. The current northern boundary is a modern creation. The western bank and ditch is the most impressive of all the medieval coppice earthworks on the estate. Where the parish boundary follows the coppice boundary, the earthworks are more complex and of greater size, but it should be noted that the ground drops to a stream to the west which might exagerate the height of the bank. It is possible that this western boundary was the former alignment of the Alderton Stallage.

No internal features of archaeological significance were noted.

<1> Jones, RLC, 2001, An archaeological survey of woodland on the Wakefield Lodge Estate, Northamptonshire, March 2001, p. 13 (Report). SNN111620.

<2> Collier; Baker;, c1600, Map of Whittlewood Forest (NRO Map 4210) (Map). SNN105610.

<3> , 1887, First Edition OS Mapping (Map). SNN1004.

Record last edited

Feb 25 2025 8:08PM