Monument record 1697/1/2 - Former fishponds/ornamental ponds, Abington Park

A group of fishponds are present on 17th/18th century maps of the park. The fishponds may have incorporated cascades and other ornamental features in the 18th century but had probably originated as medieval fish ponds. The sunken gardens and playground of the modern park now occupy much of the area.

{1} Emparkment & landscaping of 1736-42 saw replacment of smaller fishponds in area previously called "The Parke" by group of ornamental rectangular ones; these ornamental ponds are direct successors to earlier ponds which were probably medieval in origin.

{2} "....fishpond with store of carp....";

{3} The map of 1671 depicts a series of small ponds labelled 'fish ponds' in an area called 'The Parke' to the east of the manor house.

{4} Set of about six sub-rectangular ponds on side of valley are linked to large rectangular pond in bottom of valley by means of another linear water-feature; on map appears as 'serpentine' canal but given formality of landscape at this time it may represent an attempt to show cascade feature. They had been removed & replaced by 1798 {5}.

{6} Modern sunken garden located on site of former fishponds.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1985, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.211-12/ Site 7 & Fig 20 (Series). SNN77383.

<2> 1669, SURVEY, (unchecked) (Document). SNN45679.

<3> Grant V., 1671, Map of Abington (NRO Map 4524), (unchecked) (Map). SNN41646.

<4> 1742, Abington Estate Map, (checked) (Map). SNN41652.

<5> 1798, Abington Map (NRO 470), (checked) (Map). SNN41653.

<6> Cadman G.E., 1994, SMR Report Form, (unchecked) (Report). SNN50050.

Record last edited

Jun 2 2025 9:08AM