Monument record 1266/0/1 - Medieval Fishpond, Mill Pond & Later Ornamental Pond

Earthworks in the grounds of Canons Ashby House. These include a Medieval hollow way which runs southwest from the southwest end of the formal gardens towards a dam. The dam is now retained on its northern side by a brick and stone wall of 18th century and later date but is believed to have originated in the Medieval period to provide water-power for milling. This dam is the lowest in a series of five dams which extend up the valley north westward from the Eydon Road. The shape of the two lower ponds, which are still water-filled and of the dams behind them, dates from the late 18th century when they were altered to form ornamental lakes within the park at Canons Ashby House. The three upper ponds are now only partly water-filled and lie within a plantation. The full flight of five ponds are thought to be those documented during the mid 12th century when Canons Ashby Priory was established. A water mill was also documented during the 19th century. The earthworks were surveyed by RCHME field staff in 1992. In addition to the dams being scheduled as ancient monuments, a sample of the deposits on the floor or each pond is included within the scheduling.

{1} The bounds of 'Ashby Park' in the early/mid C19th are clearly shown on this map, and they include only the larger, lower pond from the series of ponds in the valley. The pond is shown as distinctly L-shaped, unlike it's present form.

{3} The park was formerly adorned with a great number of venerable oaks, but the greatest ornament at present is four large fish-ponds, at the head of each other containing some of them 8 acres of ground. These ponds are supplied by several small springs rising near Woodford Fields.

{4} Fishponds. One of four ponds each covering some 3ha and each formed by the construction of a simple earthen dam up to 2m high across the valley, with the exception of the lower southernmost one, which is supported by a large dam with a dressed stone revetment probably of C18th or C19th date. The ponds are separated into two pairs by a small wood. The two lower ponds are still water-filled, but the uppermost pair are now marshy depressions within a plantation. It is not clear whether all the ponds are contemporary in origin, nor which, if any, may have been constructed as ornamental features within the landscape parkland. They may all have originated as medieval fishponds prior to having an ornamental value.
The lowest pond appears to have existed and to have extended to more than its present area during the period when the field to the east was still being cultivated in ridge and furrow, since the ridges end several metres from the pond. This suggests that this pond at least was present by the C16th. It may also have functioned as a mill pond.

{5} Four ponds (only two of which are shown on Plan 1) lie in a shallow valley west of Canons ashby House and are probably those documented in the mid C12th foundation charter for the priory. Each pond covers approximately 3ha, and is formed by the construction of simple dams. The southernmost pond has a larger dam with a dressed stone revetment, which may be C18th or C19th in date. The ponds form two pairs, separated by a 200m long stretch of woodland. The lower pair still hold water and were modified as landscape features by the Dryden family. A mill associated with the priory may have stood at the head of the lowest pond, on the Eydon Road; a mill is recorded here in the C19th.
Although the original RCHME survey shows the ridge and furrow respecting the edge of the lower pond, recent aerial photographs and field inspection show that the edge of the pond truncates this cultivation, suggesting that the current pond is a later enlargement.

{6} There were a number of fishponds belonging to the priory, both the series of large ponds in the valley to the west of the village, which are probably the ponds granted in the foundation charter, and must be those referred to in Robert son of Robert de Leye’s later grant in which licence was given to heighten the mill pond. The 1536 Valor includes other fishponds, and in the 1573 deed reference is made to the “stewes in the said orchard” of the priory site. These may be either the ponds in the area south-east of the priory, or in the close to the north-east of the church. However, only the large ponds in the valley continued in use, and of these the lower two were modified as landscape features associated with the Dryden mansion.

{7} (SP 569508) Fishponds (LB)

{8} This site was formerly recorded under SP 55 SE 1.

{9} Aerial photographs show that the edge of the lower pond truncates ridge-and-furrow cultivation associated with Canon's Ashby DMV (SP 55 SE 1) suggesting that the current edge is a later enlargement. The upper ponds are now completely silted, surviving as marshy areas with some tree cover. For further details, see RCHME Level 3 client report and plan at 1:2500 scale, held in archive. In December 1992, RCHME's Cambridge office carried out an analytical earthwork survey of two of the ponds, following a request from the National Trust.

LEE, E S., 1991, RCHME Recorder (Note). SNN114837.

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1834, First Edition Ordnance Survey 1 Inch Map Series (Sheet 52), (checked) (Map). SNN281.

<2> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, (unchecked) (Archive). SNN115.

<3> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.223 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77325.

<4> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1981, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.34-37 Site 4 (checked) (Series). SNN77381.

<5> RCHME, 1992, Canons Ashby, Northamptonshire: An archaeological survey by the RCHME, December 1992, p.18+Fig.1 (checked) (Report). SNN71599.

<6> FOARD G.R., 1982, Canons Ashby, Northamptonshire: An Archaeological Report, 1982, p.4 (checked) (Typescript Report). SNN45382.

<7> Ordnance Survey Map (Scale/date), OS 6" 1955 (Map). SNN112944.

<8> LEE, E S., 1991, RCHME Recorder, 22-JUL-91 (Note). SNN114837.

<9> RCHME, 1992, Canons Ashby, Northamptonshire: An archaeological survey by the RCHME, December 1992, 832829 (Report). SNN71599.

<10> Ordnance Survey Map (Scale/date), OS 1" 1834 (Map). SNN112944.

Record last edited

Jun 20 2024 10:12AM