Monument record 4184/3 - Phase 3 Park Boundary (?1638 to ?1850)

{1}Park was further enlarged to west in 1638; <western expansion probably in C19th>;,

{2} Sir Lewis Watson brought the park (which his family had leased since 1554) from the crown in 1619.The pale is shown on the 1615 mapbut it is difficult to detect now, possibly because as a late creation the enlarged park was never given the massive eathwork boundaries sometimes given to earlier parks.The former early park's west side boundaries of large bank and internal ditch continued to be used. The new boundary now continued but the traces of the pale are intermittent, consisting of a length of ditch 2m wide running along the forward side of a north facing slope, going to 1m wide and then a short length of path running through Lodge Coppice. Then the boundary is now followed by a stone wall and along the level SE side of the park, a low bank 0.5m high and 5m wide with an outer ditch.The remaining stretch, the boundary follows the crest of the slope facing the castle with no bank therefore required.Within the phase II park was a lodge for hunting, moated with a pair of additional buildings and an enclosed orchard. In 1638 park was deforested and Lewis was licenced to enlarge it with "ditches, walls, pales or any other fence." estate map of 1806 indicates that park boundary diverged from C15th line & ran closer to the castle; possibly the result of enlargement in C17th;

{4} Part of 17th century deer park boundary. Visible as an earthwork ditch with two low banks. The boundary overlies ridge and furrow.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.129 (checked) (Series). SNN77380.

<2> BROWN A.E.; TAYLOR C.C., 1974, The Earthworks of Rockingham and its Neighbourhood, p.68-79 (unchecked) (Article). SNN40063.

<3> STEANE J.M., 1975, The Medieval Parks of Northamptonshire, p.230-31 (unchecked) (Article). SNN37713.

<4> Cadman G., 1995, Rockingham Castle Ponds: Site Inspection Notes, May 1995, (part checked) (Report). SNN104108.

<5> CADMAN G.E., 1995, SMR REPORT FORM, (unchecked) (Note). SNN49891.

Record last edited

Mar 3 2022 11:13AM