Monument record 3980/5/6 - Manorial Fishponds

C13th Fishponds and C18th garden remains. The two southern ponds remained water-filled until 1969 when one was filled with contractors spoil from a nearby development. The other was saved. Summary from record 3980/5/4: Two large rectangular ponds, formerly medieval fishponds.

{1} Fishponds and Garden Remains (SP 81638089; Fig. 117), lie S. of the church and manor house, on the N. side of a broad valley, on Upper Lias Clay between 105 m. and 115 m. above OD. The fishponds, of medieval date, are probably those referred to in the early 13th century, when fish from ponds at Rothwell were granted to various people (Cal. Close 1231–34, 187, 209; Northants. P. and P., 4 (1971), 308).

Until recently there were two large rectangular ponds, up to 1.5 m. deep, cut back into the hillside. They were separated by a low dam, and kept filled by a large earthen dam, up to 2 m. high, which bounded the S. and E. sides of the easternmost pond. This latter pond has now been filled in. To the N. of these ponds there are three shallow rectangular depressions, also separated by low banks. These appear to be quite different in character from the main ponds, yet all are shown as water-filled on the Enclosure Map of Rothwell, 1819, and a map of the town of Rothwell, 1813 (both in NRO).

{2} Manorial fishponds.

{3} Fish from the ponds at Rothwell were granted to various people.

{4} Fish from ponds at Rothwell were granted to various people in early C13th.

{8} The Mounts is an area at the southern end of the garden which in 1813 contained four rectangular ponds. The earthworks might suggest that several of these were sub-divided to form a series of smaller tanks. The ponds were formed by upcast from the tanks being thrown downslope to create a large dam. The earthworks have been altered considerably, particularly by infilling in 1969-70, so that now the northern ponds are but shallow depressions. A fishpond was recorded on the manor in 1262, and as early as the 1230s stock was taken from the ponds at Rothwell. The fishpond is not however mentioned in later medieval documents or in the detailed survey of 1607 and it cannot be assumed that the medieval ponds were in this area of the later ponds. Fishponds are again listed in 1701, in sequence after the garden and orchard and before the close called Nozells, which lies immediately to the south of the Mounts. It is therefore perhaps likely that the Mounts were constructed on a new site in the 18th century as an integral part of an overall 18th century garden design, an interpretation which accords well with the overall layout of the ponds.

{10} These features are now set in a well mown recreation ground. Immediately to the north are traces of several terraced enclosures and a building platform. Further north again next to the church is the 17th C Manor House, and it seems extremely likely that this is the site of the earlier manor with its gardens and ponds. Published survey (1:2500) revised.

{13} Correspondence regarding the fight to save the two southern ponds from being backfilled by contractors spoil. In the event, one pond was saved.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.130-31 (checked) (Series). SNN77380.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP88SW6 (checked) (Index). SNN443.

<3> Calendar of Close Rolls (undated), 1234 AD/187+209 (unchecked) (Document). SNN2187.

<4> STEANE J.M., 1970, The Medieval Fishponds of Northamptonshire, 308 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN4943.

<5> Taylor P., 1992, Fishponds Report 1992, (unchecked) (Report). SNN1339.

<6> , 1926, Ordnance Survey 25 Inch Map Series, (checked) (Map). SNN56012.

<7> Ordnance Survey, 1880, First Edition Ordnance Survey 25 Inch Mapping Series (24.08), (checked) (Map). SNN55941.

<8> Foard G, 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Rothwell (Medieval and Post Medieval), (checked) (Digital archive). SNN100514.

<9> 1813, Rothwell Tithe Map (TM 390/Map 3106), (unchecked) (Map). SNN100515.

<10> Seaman, BH, 1969, Field investigators comments, 13-Aug-1969 (Notes). SNN111907.

<11> 1971, Northamptonshire Past and Present (4/6), Page 308 (Journal). SNN42342.

<12> 1819, Enclosure Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN44982.

<13> Various, 1969-70, Rothwell Fishponds (Correspondence). SNN117175.

Record last edited

Aug 6 2026 2:22PM