Monument record 5110/0/1 - Moulton Park Pale

Fragments of the dry stone wall and boundary bank which surrounded the park were still visible in the late 20th century. The earliest reference to the boundary is c.1300; it was rebuilt in 1577 and again in the C17th.

{1} Inscribed stones were originally built into the boundary wall. In 1908 stones naming the villages of Dalyngton (Dallington), Deene, Islap (Islip), Clipson (Clipston) and Drayton were found in the park. In the early C19th a stone naming Crick was also recorded. These record the custom of villages being allotted parts of the wall to repair and maintain.

{2}{3} Observation by J.M.Steane. The site is rapidly being covered by the expansion of Northampton, but fragments of the drystone limestone wall surrounding the park were noticed recently, notably along the road running west from Buttocks Booth to Boughton. The park follows the parish boundary for half a mile and then curves around just inside the road down towards the site of Moulton Park House. There is a long stretch of newish wall with two carved stones embedded in the inner side. These were not noticed by Leach in his article of 1908. One, in Roman type, has HAY FORD inscribed on it and the other near the entrance to the college is inscribed ROT TRO (possibly Rothersthorpe). In 1549 Simon Mallory gave evidence "That he hath redde the names of many townes engraven upon the stones of the walls of the said parke… The same townes engraven upon the same stones have payde their yerely rent toward the mending of the same walls." The southern boundary of the park ran due east from Moulton Park House and the wall was traced under thick undergrowth. In two places (SP768642) the wall footings are clearly visible in section. The ground drops rapidly into a disused quarry to the south. No sign of the inscribed stones mentioned by Leach are visible in this stretch now.

{4} The earliest reference to the boundary is c.1300; it was rebuilt in 1577 and again in the C17th. Northern boundary remains inspected: the wall survives up to 20 courses high in places. The earthworks are overgrown. A ditch is present outside the wall to the south of Holly Lodge, Moulton. The bank on the inside of the wall is very substantial, and is almost certainly a bund constructed to screen modern industry.

{5} SP765640. The old boundary bank extends for approximately 130m (circa 4m broad). It is not shown on the mid C18th enclosure map, but is on the alignment of a dotted line on an Old Inclosures map. Appears to be a continuation of the feature across adjacent field (SP764640) as a back-filled ditch.

{6} Documentary references to boundary of medieval deer park at Moulton centred on SP770648; part of boundary was a wall of stone. By 1560 the wall was low and had been breached in places so that deer could escape. Earthworks survive as what appears to be a boundary bank with a hedge on top. Stonework survives within the bank where it is worn away eg. At SP764642 to SP771639. The wall has been rebuilt between SP760644 and SP765652. Two carved stones which spell 'Hayford' (Heyford) and 'Rottro' (Rothersthorpe) are built into the inner face of this wall.

{8} Evidently the task of enclosing the park at Moulton was shared from an early date by surrounding townships. The sheriff was ordered to distrain those in his bailiwick who anciently and of right had to enclose the park. In 276 the med of Roger de Furneus in Raunds, of Henry le Scot and Ralph de Normanvill in Cotes, of Oliver Bydun and Simon de Cotes in Little Cotes and of Richard Trayley and Robert Puntney in Ringstead were arraigned before the hundred court for neglecting for 16 years to repair their share. It is clear that the king himself had part of the wall to maintain since in 1328 the sheriff was ordered to take with him some of the men of his bailiwick to survey the wall of the king's park in Northampon and to cause the defects that ought to be repaired by the king to be repaired by their view and testimony. During the term of office of Sir Nicholas Lilling in 1393 the walls were thoroughly repaired. Two carts were employed for carrying stones to the faulty places, and at 10d a day cost 30s. For 36 days, and four masons with three assistants were employed for 45 days. By the C16th stones with the names of townships inscribed upon thm were built into stretches of the walls. Some of these survive today.

{9} The western boundary of Moulton Park is marked by the stone boundary wall of the university campus, aspects of which are believed to date to the 19th century and earlier. Although much of the wall has been updated and improved, this feature is an important component of the site's heritage as it continues to define the medieval boundary of Moulton Park.

<1> 1900, Journal of The Northamptonshire Natural History Society & Field Club, (unchecked) (Journal). SNN27740.

<2> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1974, Archaeology In Northamptonshire 1973, 9/106-7 (unchecked) (Article). SNN9109.

<3> Rowley R.T.; Fowler W.J. (Editors), 1974, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter (4), p.24 (unchecked) (Newsletter). SNN17341.

<4> Cadman, G.E., 1992, Moulton Park watching brief 1992, (checked) (Note). SNN51844.

<5> Welsh T.C., 1997, Correspondence, (part checked) (Notes). SNN44611.

<6> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1985, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.317-319 Site 2 (checked) (Series). SNN77383.

<7> Bradlaugh Barn Association, 2005, Secrets of Bradlaugh Fields, Northampton, (unchecked) (Guide). SNN106009.

<8> STEANE J.M., 1975, The Medieval Parks of Northamptonshire, p.213 (checked) (Article). SNN37713.

<9> Tudor, M., 2014, University of Northampton - Park Campus, Northampton, Northamptonshire: Heritage Desk-Based Assessment, p.11 (checked) (Report). SNN109647.

Record last edited

Jan 15 2019 9:57AM