Monument record 2327/0/2 - Possible Early Park Boundary Within Round Lown Wood

{1}{5}{6} The wood seems to have been enlarged a little to the north and east, since its present edges lie outside the
double ditch marked on the early C18th NRO maps.

{4} Around the west, north and east sides of Round Lown Wood are traces of low, much degraded banks and shallow
ditches. Together these banks and ditches would have enclosed an area c.10 hectares and perhaps form the boundary of the original medieval deer park which was later extended.

{7} The linear earthworks continue in varied form within the northern & western margins and western boundary of the wood. Along the northern and north eastern parts of the wood the ground slopes gently down towards the perimeter of the wood, the northern side demarcated by a simple ‘working’ ditch. The bank with internal ditch changes character roughly where it encounters this sloping ground; from very approximately SP9583 8160 to SP9565 8169 it takes the form of a scarp or terrace (speculatively - soilcreep/colluviation masking any ditch/bank?). As it continues W the form of this again reverts to at least one, possibly parts of two? banks and ditches. At one point the bank exhibits a pronounced westward turn and to the north of this, within the NW margin of the wood are some possible, ephemeral traces of ridge and furrow. Does the pronounced turn in the linear earthwork indicate its skirting of a pre-existing furlong? It is noted that no other traces of ridge and furrow were observed elsewhere within the wood. The linear earthwork then turns and runs along the western side of the wood; here two broadly parallel sections of ditch and bank are present; one bank runs along the perimeter of the wood with no clear ditch survival; set back in the wood is a more prominent ditch and broad bank. The former extends to the extreme SW corner of the wood (SP9554 8143) but is not visible in the adjoining field to the south. The southern extent of the latter not clearly established. Set periodically along the top of the bank occupying the woods western perimeter, are several small heaps of rough limestone fragments and glacial pebbles of uncertain origin. Speculatively, might these have been collected and dumped just within the woodland, during (?steam) ploughing of the field to the west?
The linear ditch and bank earthworks are consistent in form and character with having formed part of the pale to the recorded deer park, though the changing form and double nature along the western part of the wood suggest more complex activity (— woodland bank and/or expansion of deer park?).

<1> STEANE J.M., 1975, The Medieval Parks of Northamptonshire, p.221-223 (checked) (Article). SNN37713.

<2> 1700?, Map 1402 (Drayton Old Park?), (unchecked) (Map). SNN106073.

<3> 1700?, Map 1403 (Drayton Old Park?), (unchecked) (Map). SNN106074.

<4> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1975, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.63+Fig.33 (checked) (Series). SNN77379.

<5> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1974, Archaeology In Northamptonshire 1973, p.110 (checked) (Article). SNN9109.

<6> STEANE J., 1974, Survey Report: Some Medieval Parks in Northamptonshire, p.25 (checked) (Newsletter). SNN37717.

<7> Cadman, G., 2009, Sudborough, Round Lown Wood - Drayton Old Park, (unchecked) (Note). SNN106849.

Record last edited

Sep 24 2014 6:23PM