Monument record 6154 - Rockingham Park

Landscape park, formal gardens and pleasure grounds to Rockingham Castle. The park was originally a deer park, documented in 1256, enlarged in 1485 and 1638. The original park pale has been traced and comprises a bank 2 metres high and 4 metres wide with an interior ditch 2 metres wide. The main phase of park landscaping is thought to have taken place in 1824. The present garden layout probably incorporates garden features which date to the late 17th century, altered during the early 19th century, with further planting schemes laid out during the early 20th century. The planting schemes include designs by John Codrington circa 1914. The park was landscaped in the 18th century and contains gardens which date from the 16th century, and were altered in 17th and 19th century. The gardens are are situated within the baileys of the castle and include terraced lawns, a 19th century circular rose garden and a wild garden established in the 1840s. [Incorporates medieval deer park (Mon 4184).]

{2} Landscape park, formal gardens and pleasure grounds to Rockingham Castle. The present garden layout probably incorporates garden features which date to the late 17th century and altered during the early 19th century. Further planting schemes were laid out during the early 20th century and include a design by John Codrington circa 1914. The main phase of park landscaping is thought to have taken place in 1824.

{7} Possible C17th landscape park of 150ha also taking in an area of C13th or earlier deer park (Mon 4184). In 1618 Lewis Watson moved the main road 200m east from Hollow Drive on the east side of the castle to its present position, and soon after removed the southern part of Rockingham village. Those actions enabled the park to the enlarged to include the areas now knolwn as Front Park, Castle Close and the eastern part of Fish Ponds. Thereby the castle was eventually placed within its park. The various limes and elm avenues, both extant and documented, may have first been planted after the Civil War. In the winter of 1824 there was also a great deal of activity in the park, including much planting, and this may represent the main phase of landscaping within the park.

{8} Lord Sondes.

{9} Quotes Leland. 2 illustrations p334. Present possessor - Lewis eldest son to Edward Vs Sondes by Lady Catherine Tufton.

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

{22} Deer park (centred SP 861905) occupies a large area of land southwest of Rockingham Castle and extending into Cottingham parish. It is situated in a natural ampitheatre on the very broken edge of the Jurassic escarpment between 68 metres and 130 metres above OD, and has several springs within it.

A park certainly existed in 1256, but it was probably small, covering little more than 13 hectares on either side of the boundary with Cottingham. Its original pale survives on the southwest side as a bank 2 metres high and 4 metres wide with a shallow internal ditch, 2 metres across. On the south side the steep north-facing slope probably obviated the need for an earthen bank. On the flatter ground to the southeast the bank reappears, 0.5 metres high and 5 metres wide and continues north and northwest up a steep slope as a terrace 2 metres wide. The northwest side has no surviving boundary, but followed the crest of a ridge at this point. This early park was enlarged to the east and south in 1485 to cover some 108 hectares, mainly in Cottingham. The boundaries of the new park are marked on a map of 1615 (in Rockingham Castle Archives) but are difficult to trace on the ground, perhaps because they were never very substantial. Some slight ditches and low banks are all that have been noted. The park was further enlarged to the west in 1638.

<1> 1921, Country Life (Vol.50), p.44-75 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN30931.

<2> Amherst A., 1895, A History of Gardening in England, (unchecked) (Book). SNN56167.

<3> HELLYER A., 1956, English Gardens Open to The Public, (unchecked) (Book). SNN56168.

<4> HELLYER A., 1977, The Shell Guide to Gardens, (unchecked) (Book). SNN56169.

<5> Anthony J., 1979, Gardens of Britain, (unchecked) (Series). SNN34164.

<7> English Heritage, 1991, Register of Parks & Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England (1991, Northamptonshire), (checked) (Report). SNN1167.

<8> Eyre T. (Revised by Jefferys T.), 1779, Map of the County of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Map). SNN1852.

<9> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.334 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77326.

<10> BURT J., Rockingham Note, (unchecked) (Note). SNN41512.

<11> 1900, Country Life (1900), p.80-3 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN56171.

<12> GOTCH J.A., 1921, Rockingham Castle (Part II), p.76-82 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN56172.

<13> JEKYLL G; ELGOOD G.S., 1904, Some English Gardens, p.33-5 (unchecked) (Book). SNN54747.

<14> JEKYLL G., 1918, Garden Ornament, p.278 (unchecked) (Book). SNN56173.

<15> LADY ROCKLEY, 1938, Historic Gardens of England, p.70-1 (unchecked) (Book). SNN56174.

<16> ALLAN M., 1970, Fison's Guide, p.231-2 (unchecked) (Book). SNN56175.

<17> Hinde T., 1983, Stately Gardens of Britain, p.94-101 (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN56176.

<18> WISE C., 1891, Rockingham Castle and The Watsons, p.41 (unchecked) (Chapter). SNN54748.

<19> Cadman G., 1995, Rockingham Castle Ponds: Site Inspection Notes, May 1995, (part checked) (Report). SNN104108.

<20> HYLTON T.; MASTERS P., 1998, Empingham to Hannington Anglian Water Pipeline, Northamptonshire Section, Archaeological Evaluation: Stage 1, (unchecked) (Report). SNN63049.

<21> Mowl T.; Hickman C., 2008, The Historic Gardens of England: Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Series). SNN106082.

<22a> BROWN A.E.; TAYLOR C.C., 1974, The Earthworks of Rockingham and its Neighbourhood, p. 72-74 (Article). SNN40063.

<22> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p. 128 (Series). SNN77380.

Record last edited

Feb 3 2025 8:09PM