Monument record 728/2/2 - Possible post-medieval garden earthworks, The Old Rectory

The earthworks appear to include the remains of a late 16th or early 17th century garden associated with the medieval manor house (destroyed by the 18th century). The garden may relate to the period between 1552 and 1572 when the manor was held by Sir William Parr

{1} Garden remains lie around the present Greens Norton Rectory, in an isolated position north of the village. The main medieval manor house was described by Bridges as 'totally destroyed' by the early C18th. Baker sites it to the north-west of the church. The earthworks appear to include the remains of a late C16th or early C17th garden associated with this manor house. The garden may relate to the period between 1552 and 1572 when the manor was held by Sir William Parr (1513-71), later Marquess of Northampton. Maps of 1726 and 1767, and the Enclosure Map of 1798 show only one building in the area, presumably the present rectory.
The main surviving feature is a tall, conical steep-sided mound, 8m in diameter and 5m tall, with a small flat summit only 1m across. This stands in the north-east corner of the present garden and is perhaps a prospect mound. A flat terrace or walk-way 3m wide and only 0.25m high extends south from the mound along the edge of the garden. A similar one also runs west, but has been much damaged by the existing hedge. Outside the garden, to the east, is a large ditch 3-7m wide and up to 1.5m deep has cut through the adjacent ridge and furrow. This may have been the source of the material for the adjacent terraces and mound.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.72/Site 8 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<2> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.238 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77325.

<3> Baker G., 1830, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.62 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77328.

<4> 1726, Map of Greens Norton, (unchecked) (Map). SNN12756.

<5> 1767, Map of Greens Norton, (unchecked) (Map). SNN13216.

<6> 1798, Greens Norton Enclosure Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN12769.

<7> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs, RAF VAP F21 58/RAF/2316, 0065-6 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN104822.

Record last edited

Feb 27 2024 11:16AM