Monument record 6713 - Kelmarsh Gardens and Parkland

Landscape park and gardens to Kelmarsh Hall which have 18th century origins but are mainly 20th century in date. The park was laid at about the same time as construction of the hall in 1728-32. Further landscaping is known to have taken place after 1760 by William Emes. It is thought that he was responsible for the damming of the Ise to form a lake and the development of some of the garden layouts. To the southwest of the hall is a kitchen garden, which is enclosed by an 18th century brick wall (LBS UID 360318) presumably constructed post 1732 when the house was built, and repaired during the 19th century.Much of the present garden layout was laid out between 1928 and 1948. The was the work of Nancy Lancaster and Claude Lancaster, involving garden designers Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe and Norah Lindsay.

{2} Kelmarsh is an inclosed lordship of 23 farms. Kelmarsh before the inclosure being an extensive champain lordship…. Serjeant Thomas Hanbury, Lawyer, Lord of the Manor hath here a very good mansion house. Osborne family passed manor to Sir John Hanbury Kt died 1639. Three illustrations of the old hall and new hall.

{3} Belongs to William Hanbury. The pleasure grounds are pleasantly diversified with contrasting effects of wood and water.

{6} John Hanbury, merchant taylor, from Feckenham, Worcestershire bought Kelmarsh manor in 1618.

{7} Various views of house across parkland.

{9} Plan of Glebe exchange.

{13} Printed map of parish showing topography and field boundaries but no buildings.

{15} Kelmarsh Estate Act.

{16} Catalogue of pictures at hall with drawings showing their locations.

{17} Kelmarsh Estate Act.

{19} Apparently shows parkland extending further northwards and westwards than earlier maps and also than shown on OS map of 1900.

{20} Kelmarsh Hall landscape park, located on Scheduled Ancient Monument Number 157 (shrunken/shifted village). It is a County Prime Site in the ownership of Kelmarsh Hall Preservation Trust.

{22} …With Kelmarsh there is caught, for coursing of the Hare,
Which scornes that any place, should with her Plaines compare… (Michael Drayton, The Second Part or a Continuance of Polyolbion, The Three and Twentieth Song, 1622).

{23} One of the curious features of Kelmarsh, particularly given the size and splendour of the Hall, is that it has no landscaped park. It has, and has for long had, gardens and pleasure grounds around the Hall and a serpentine lake said to be of about 1785, but no real park. The site of the deserted village, to both the south and east of the Hall, together with the church and the rising ground, as well as scattered trees and plantations, give the impression of a park. Certainly the view east, with no houses visible and extensive pasture, is park-like but to the south of the house the old Home Farm was left in the centre of the vista until the 1950s. Nor has there been any public perception of a wider designed landscape at Kelmarsh. No OS map from the early 19th century to the present depicts any parkland there except immediately around the Hall, which is better described as pleasure ground. The only clue to the existence of a wider designed landscape, as opposed to purely rural views, is on the 1739 estate map and the 1835 OS map.

{25} Much of the gardens are 20th century and are the work of designers Nancy Lancaster, Norah Lindsay and Geoffrey Jellicoe (laid out between 1928-1948). Jellicoe was a landscape architect who added a formal terrace and an avenue of chestnut trees leading to a lake. Nancy Lancaster was a resident of the hall and an important "society" interior designer, whilst Norah Lindsay was a garden designer.

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1950, Ordnance Survey 1950s Mapping Series (SP77), SP77 (unchecked) (Map). SNN60425.

<2> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.38 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77326.

<3> Evans J.; Britton J., 1810, The Beauties of England and Wales (Northamptonshire), (unchecked) (Book). SNN1351.

<4> OSWALD A., 1933, Kelmarsh Hall, Northamptonshire, p.198-203 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN41705.

<5> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1981, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.111 (unchecked) (Series). SNN77381.

<6> WALL J.C., 1927, Kelmarsh, A Parochial History, (unchecked) (Book). SNN41737.

<7> 1970, NRL Postcard Collection, (checked) (Photographs). SNN41692.

<8> 1885, Map 1554 IL 5235/6, MAP 1554 IL 5235/6 (unchecked) (Map). SNN56260.

<9> 1815, Map of Kelmarsh, (unchecked) (Map). SNN41696.

<10> 1852, Tithe Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN56261.

<11> 1837, Kelmarsh Tithe Map (NRO T27), (unchecked) (Map). SNN15800.

<12> 1790, Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN54943.

<13> 1750, Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN41698.

<14> 1864, FS.24/19, FS.24/19 (unchecked) (Document). SNN56263.

<15> 1851, Y2 2847, (unchecked) (Document). SNN41699.

<16> 1815, Catalogue, (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN41700.

<17> 1851, ZB 150/1, ZB 150/1 (unchecked) (Document). SNN41703.

<18> Ordnance Survey, 1900, Second Edition OS 25 Inch Mapping Series (23.12), (checked) (Map). SNN41741.

<19> Ordnance Survey, 1880, First Edition OS 6 Inch Mapping Series (MULTIPLES!), 23SE (checked) (Map). SNN41967.

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

<22> Brown G., 1969, The Old Manor House at Kelmarsh and A Civil War Fortification, p.7 (checked) (Report). SNN57929.

<23> Taylor C.C., 2000, Kelmarsh Estate Report, (unchecked) (Report). SNN101314.

<24> ENGLISH HERITAGE, 2009, A Landscape Detective's Look at Kelmarsh Hall, (unchecked) (Leaflet). SNN106892.

<25> Kelmarsh Hall and Gardens, Kelmarsh Hall and Gardens, Kelmarsh Hall, Digital Paint 2006. "The gardens at Kelmarsh Hall" [Accessed 19-MAY-2009] (Website). SNN115274.

Record last edited

Feb 3 2025 8:09PM