Monument record 1266/0/3 - Medieval/Post Medieval Fishpond

{1} Fishponds. One of four ponds each covering some 3 hectares 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 before having an ornamental value.

{2} 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.

{3} Appears to be water-filled in 1834.

{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 ponds form two pairs, separated by a 200m long stretch of woodland. The upper pair of ponds is now completely silted, surviving only as marshy areas with some tree cover. A farm track crosses the dam of the third pond and a stream still meanders through the upper ponds and into the lower pair.

{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.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1981, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.36 Site 4 (checked) (Series). SNN77381.

<2> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.223 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77325.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1834, First Edition Ordnance Survey 1 Inch Map Series (Sheet 52), (checked) (Map). SNN281.

<4> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, (unchecked) (Archive). SNN115.

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

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

Record last edited

Sep 27 2021 11:11AM