Monument record 4184/2/1 - Little Coppice Moated Lodge Site, Rockingham Park

Medieval moated site, built prior to the expansion of Rockingham Park to include the site in 1485. It was used as a keeper's and hunting lodge and was defaced during the Civil War. Shown on a map of 1615 and 1806 as a moated building. Demolished in c1827. The moat is rectangular in shape, measuring 63 metres by 53 metres, the ditch is 8 metres wide and 1 metre deep. There is a causwayed entrance on the south west side. Scheduled.

{1} Documentary. Late medieval/post medieval park keeper's lodge recorded in 1615. A moated building with outbuildings and an orchard. Used for hunting parties.

{2} Unusual for a moat to be constructed as late as 1485 (when the park was extended into this area). Possibly earlier? Demolished c.1827. Plans.

{3} The moated building was still present in 1806 when it was approached via an avenue of trees.

{4} Among the people known to have used the lodge was James I. During the Civil War it was defaced and timber removed from it. It is shown on the map of 1615 as a moated building with a pair of additional buildings and an orchard occupying an enclosure to the SW of it and appears again as a moated building, approached by an avenue of trees on an estate map of 1806. The lodge was demolished by Lewis third Baron Sondes in c 1827. Its side is much overgrown but the rectangular moat 55m by 65m with a ditch 8m wide and 1m deep can still be made out.

{5} Moat within part of the deer park of Rockingham which was created in 1485. It may represent the site of a late medieval park-keeper's lodge and is shown on a map of 1615 as a moated building,
with a pair of additional buildings and an orchard occupying an enclosure to the SW. It was then used as a lodge for the accommodationof hunting parties. However it would be unusual for a moat to be
constructed as late as 1485 and it may have much older origins as a moated farmstead in the former forest wastes of the parish. The site is still shown as a moated building approached by an avenue of trees, on an estate map of 1806. The lodge itself was demolished around 1827. A rectangular island 55m x 65m surrounded by a ditch 8m wide x 1m deep. Causewayed entrance on the south-west side. Slight traces of an outer bank on the north-west and north-east sides. Interior is featureless. 6" plan. Name: Little Coppice.

{6} In 1619, soon after Sir Lewis Watson purchased the freehold, whilst renovating the castle he lived in a lodge in the park.

{7} Rectangular ditch 40 by 30m, possible park lodge site. Date not proved.

<1> 1615, Map including Cottingham, (unchecked) (Map). SNN31066.

<2> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.26/Site 2 (checked) (Series). SNN77380.

<3> Eagle J., 1806, Map of The Estates of The Right Honourable Lewis Richard, Lord Sondes at Rockingham, Cottingham, (unchecked) (Map). SNN100475.

<4> BROWN A.E.; TAYLOR C.C., 1974, The Earthworks of Rockingham and its Neighbourhood, 9/74 (unchecked) (Article). SNN40063.

<5> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.26/Site 2 (checked) (Series). SNN77380.

<6> BURT J., NOTE, (unchecked) (Note). SNN41513.

<7> Hall D.N., 1960-1999, Rockingham Forest Project: Archaeological Sites Recorded by David Hall, Cottingham/Site 5 (unchecked) (Database). SNN102279.

<8> Scheduled Monument Notification, 13-Jul-95 (Note). SNN113001.

Record last edited

Feb 23 2022 3:59PM