Monument record 2169/2/2 - Moat and garden remains, Beaulieu Hall

Large moated site which includes the remains of Beaulieu Hall and gardens. The moated site belonged to Ramsey Abbey in the medieval period and is thought to have been occupied by a manor house; archaeological observation undertaken in 1985 identified building remains the earliest of which dated to the 14th century. The Montagu family acquired the manor in 1540 and built a new manor house, the remains of which still occupy the site today. Earthworks remains of the ornamental gardens associated with the 16th century manor house survive to the west of the building.

{1}On the evidence of extant remains, the site may have been occupied by a moated manor house in the medieval period when it was owned by Ramsey Abbey.

The site, covering about 3 hectares and roughly trapezoidal in shape, was originally completely surrounded by a ditch. Where remaining the ditch is up to 12m wide and 1.5m deep, but much of its east side has been destroyed. This ditch is probably the original medieval moat. The manor house stood centrally with its main elevation facing south west and extensive foundations discovered in the garden of the surviving part of the house indicate that it formerly extended to the south east.

The Montagus appear to have enlarged and adapted the older watercourses [of the moated manor] to form an elaborate garden, probably contemporaneously with work on the existing building.
Immediately south west of the house are two very low enclosures, surrounded by shallow ditches only 0.3m deep, and to judge from their form and position they may have been formal flower beds fronting the house. Beyond this, and further to the south west is a broad flat area extending to the outer ditch, here bounded by a low bank only 1m high. This area has been under cultivation at some time and minor features may have been destroyed. South of the manor house, a long ditch or canal, 15m wide and up to 2m deep, and still partly waterfilled, is set at an angle to the outer boundary ditch and may be an early 17th century feature enclosing the garden on that side. E. of the house is a broad area of land with no identifiable features on it, except in the S.E. corner where several rectangular depressions perhaps represent the remains of medieval fishponds.

{6} Within the first phase a series of three walls were uncovered, and a date of around the 14th century was postulated for this phase. The phase 1 walls clearly pre-dated the standing structure, and may themselves have been part of a medieval manor, of H-shaped plan. The Phase 2 walls, however, are less easy to order. They appear to be earlier than the east wall of the existing building, and may form part of the building demolished around 1683. the narrow walls would have presumably supported either a timber-framed structure, or brick walls. The origianl doorway on the north contains a moulded window frame indicative of an earlier timber-framed building on this site, whilst early bricks were found amoungst the demolition rubble. It is possible that the phase 2 walls are garden features, and that the building pulled down in 1683 lay to the south.

{8}Park shown.

{9}Prob in Hunts.

{10} Minor rescue excavation and watching brief undertaken in 1985 by D. Jackson during the construction of an extension to Beaulieu Hall; late Saxon, medieval and post medieval features were observed; TL095852; Owner; Dr S Steele;

{11} Observation in 1985 of an extension to the hall revealed a buried soil horizon containing pottery of the 10th-11th centuries, thus confirming that the 16th century hall occupied an earlier site. Stone walls were recovered from at least two phases, the earliest probably dating to the 14th century may have been part of a medieval manor of H-shaped plan.

{12} There was an undated culvert; moulded stones were recovered- one from a pit or ditch which was carved as a human head; the platform around the surviving house consists of rubble above the demolished building; plan;

{14} The tenant remarked that extensive foundations exist in what is now the garden on the south side of the house. The house is surrounded by extensive remains of former manorial earthworks, comprising perimeter defences with inner moated enclosure and fishponds. The whole has been greatly mutilated by cultivation and later dumping. Published survey (25' 1926) revised.

{15} Hall now unoccupied. No change in survey of '62.

{16, 2}TL 095 852 (FCE) earthwork remains of a formal garden associated with Beaulieu Hall. The earthworks are much as described by authority 1 [RCHME volume], however their interpretation has altered somewhat. No evidence was found during the present survey to support the notion that these earthworks were adapted from a medieval moated site, or that ponds in the south of the site originated as medieval fishponds. Instead it seems that the earthworks represent the remains of a late 16th century formal garden associated and contemporary with the hall.

The above description is summarised from a detailed RCHME survey of the earthworks surrounding Beaulieu Hall conducted in July 1985, the results of which are held in the NMR.

Historic England, Undated, BEAULIEU HALL, HEMINGTON, BF061844 (Archive). SNN114281.

Historic England, Undated, BEAULIEU HALL, HEMINGTON, BF061844 (Archive). SNN114281.

Historic England, Undated, BEAULIEU HALL, HEMINGTON, Drawings associated with Beaulieu Hall (Drawing). SNN114282.

RCHME, Undated, RCHME: Beaulieu Hall, Northamptonshire, AF0623280 (Archive). SNN114280.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1975, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p. 52/Site 3 (unchecked) (Series). SNN77379.

<2> Everson, P, 1991, Field Survey & Garden Earthworks, Fig 16 & Fig 2.7 (Article). SNN57429.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<4> , 1950, Ordnance Survey 2.5 Inch Series, TL08 (Map). SNN60321.

<5> English Heritage, 1992, English Heritage Scheduling Notification, (part checked) (Report). SNN47128.

<6> JACKSON D., 1985, UNPUBLISHED REPORT, (unchecked) (Interim Report). SNN57430.

<7> Jackson, D, A Watching brief at Beaulieu Hall, Hemmington, Northants (Level III and pottery report), (unchecked) (Full Report). SNN59883.

<8> Speed J., 1610, Map of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Map). SNN559.

<9> Eyre T. (Revised by Jefferys T.), 1779, Map of the County of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Map). SNN1852.

<10> 1987, SMR Report Form, (unchecked) (SMR Report Form). SNN49060.

<11> Dix B.(ed), 1986-7, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1985-6, p157 Hemington (Checked) (Report). SNN100334.

<12> JACKSON D., 1986 (circa), Beaulieu Hall, 1986, (unchecked) (Full Report). SNN11098.

<13> SITE RECORDS, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN11099.

<14> Seaman, B H, 1962, Field Investigators Comments, F1 BHS 04-MAY-1962 (Note). SNN113373.

<15> Seaman, BH, 1969, Field investigators comments, F2 BHS 29-AUG-1969 (Notes). SNN111907.

<16> Phillips, A, 1985, Field Investigators Comments, Alan Philips/JUL-1985/RCHME: Beaulieu Hall (Note). SNN114279.

Record last edited

Nov 2 2022 10:26AM