Monument record 307/0/2 - 'Giant's Grave', east of Thorpe Mandeville

Remains of a probable Medieval fishpond, locally known as Giant's Grave, seen as earthworks of a dam.

{1} Dam, known locally as Giants Grave, lies E. of the village in the bottom of the valley of a north-flowing stream, on Upper Lias Clay at 145 m above OD. It is 2 m high with a gap in the centre through which the stream now passes, another gap at its east end where a modern track has cut through, and a shallow gap at its west end which is the original overflow channel. It formerly ponded back a large area of water the limits of which are marked by a low scarp on the valley sides behind it. It is not marked on an Estate Map of 1806 {2} and was presumably already disused. The site is probably a medieval fishpond.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.148/Site 6 & Fig 112 (Series). SNN77382.

<2> 1806, Thorpe Mandeville Estate Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN9834.

<3> Royal Air Force, RAF Vertical Aerial Photographs, CPE/UK/1994, 1025–7 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN105265.

Record last edited

Oct 12 2023 3:27PM