Monument record 980/2/3 - Post Medieval Formal Gardens, Holdenby House

Formal gardens to Holdenbury House. Gardens were first laid out by 1587 and comprised formal terraced gardens laid out by Christopher Hatton. The gardens had been modelled on those at Theobalds in Hertfordshire, which were designed by Hugh Hall. These gardens survive as well preserved earthworks, the main features include a large artificial terrace, measuring 95 x 70 metres which held an elaborate knot garden. The terrace is flanked to the northwest and southeast by terraced gardens. Also present are five small ponds and another knot garden, with a mount 4.5 metres high in the southeast corner. Additions to the gardens were made during the first half of the 17th century, however, the gardens were abandoned during the 1650s when the main house was demolished. The current gardens were laid out during the 1870s.

{1} SP 693676. Garden remains immediately south and southeast of Holdenbury House. Laid out to the southwest of the original 16th century house of Sir Christopher Halton (SP 66 NE 5, now demolished) between circa 1580 and 1587. Development of the gardens recorded on maps of 1580, 1587, 1762 and 1842 as well as by contemporary descriptions.

Extent remains very well preserved. Main features on the 1580 map include a massive artificial terrace southwest of the former house, 95 x 70 metres with an elaborate knot garden. The terrace is flanked to northwest and southeast by stepped terraced gardens. At the foot of these to the northwest is a large rectangular pond. Further extant earthworks appear on the 1587 map southeast of the main garden. These include an arrangement of five small ponds and a further knot garden, with a mount 4.5 metres high in the southeast corner. Later features include a zig-zag path to the mount, and a 19th century ha-ha across the N side of the main terraces. [RCHM plan and plates].

{12} Earthworks of the early formal garden and deer park laid out in 1579-1587 for Sir Christopher Hatton. Earthworks comprise terraces and ponds, incorporating earthworks of the former village. The boundary of the deer park is still traceable.

{15} The magnificent gardens at Holdenby were created to go with a new house, between 1579 and 1587 by Sir Christopher Hatton. Here, with the help of contemporary maps and descriptions, we can appreciate not only what a great pleasure garden looked like, but how it was created. Hatton’s new house was set uncompromisingly on the crest of a hill dominating the landscape. The gardens were intended to be laid out on the slopes of the hill and on the flat ground to the east. However, an obstacle to this was the existence of the village of Holdenby, which was in effect two villages, one with a parish church on the hillside, the other just north-east of the new house. Hatton swept both away, leaving only the church to be incorporated into the garden. The upper village was then recreated with a rectangular plan, laid out axially to the garden, which had views from the main courtyard through an arch on to the new square village green. The construction of the gardens was carried out at the same time. On the south side of the house thousands of tons of earth were dumped on the hillside to create a level platform 100m x 80m projecting into the valley. On it elaborate flower beds, some of which still survive, were laid out. On either side of the platform two flights of seven terraces were dug and planted with rose bushes. At the bottom of one flight was a large rectangular pond, while a long narrow bowling green was laid out at the base of the other. On the hillside above, linking the new village to this formal garden, a large walled courtyard, with elaborately decorated archways and a gatehouse were built. Beyond, a huge hedged area of lawns, bisected by an approach drive and with a two-storey banqueting hall and a lake, was created. On the lower slopes of the hillside to the south there was a carefully designed ‘wilderness’ of trees bounded by a wooden fence on a bank with a private flower garden in one corner, a group of rectangular ponds in the centre and an elaborate arrangement of sloping terraced pathways leading up to a high ‘mount’ or circular mound. This superb garden lasted until 1651 when the house and all the other buildings were demolished. The area was later turned into a park and today almost all of the details of this once magnificent arrangement survive in grassland. Plates 19+20. Fig.10.

{17} Trial trench excavation found probable evidence of the post-medieval garden scheme including part of a possible pond, along with numerous drains and culverts, as well as evidence for terracing. It is very likely that these features were related to the Post-medieval formal gardens and fishponds within them.

{18} (SP 693677). A park pale protected the garden from deer in the new park which was added around 1580-70. Of the new park the fishponds, the park pale and the two gateways leading to the gardens remains.

{19} Earthworks of a formal terraced garden at Holdenby House laid out by 1587 by Christopher Hatton. The gardens had been modelled on those at Theobalds in Hertfordshire, which were designed by Hugh Hall. Features included a formal flower garden, and a series or flights of terraces known as The Rosaries. Additions to the gardens were made during the first half of the 17th century but were abandoned during the 1650s when the main house was demolished. The current gardens were laid out during the 1870s.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1981, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, (unchecked) (Series). SNN77381.

<2> NORDEN, 1720, Speculi Britannia, /49-50 (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN18149.

<3> 1580, The Survey of The Manor of Holdenby in The County of Northampton, made in 1580 (Finch-Hatton), (unchecked) (Map). SNN18155.

<4> 1587, The Survey of The Manor of Holdenby made in 1587 (Finch-Hatton), (unchecked) (Map). SNN18147.

<5> 1762, MAP, (unchecked) (Map). SNN18156.

<6> 1842, Holdenby Tithe Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN18157.

<7> STEANE J.M., 1977, The Development of Tudor and Stuart Garden Design in Northamptonshire, p.392 (unchecked) (Article). SNN69732.

<8> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.253-4 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<9> Beresford, M.W. & St. Joseph, J.K.S., 1958, Medieval England: An Aerial Survey, (unchecked) (Book). SNN77361.

<10> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.525 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77325.

<11> 1587, The Survey of The Manor of Holdenby made in 1587 (Finch-Hatton), (unchecked) (Map). SNN18147.

<12> English Heritage, 1991, Register of Parks & Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England (1991, Northamptonshire), (checked) (Report). SNN1167.

<13> Binney M.; Hills A., 1979, Elysian Gardens, (unchecked) (Article). SNN42578.

<14> 1979, Country Life (1979), 18 OCT/1286 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN18174.

<15> Taylor C., 1983, The Archaeology of Gardens, p.43-46 (part checked) (Series). SNN41440.

<16> English Heritage, 1994, Register of Parks & Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England (1994, Northamptonshire) (Report). SNN1324.

<17> Hood A., 2014, Holdenby House, Holdenby, Northamptonshire: Archaeological evaluation, February 2014 (Report). SNN111104.

<18> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1976, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1975, p. 202 (Journal). SNN169.

<19> English Heritage, 1991, Register of Parks & Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England (1991, Northamptonshire), Part 30 (Report). SNN1167.

<20> Royal Air Force, Vertical Aerial Photography, (RAF VAP CPE/UK/1994 2366-7) (Photographs). SNN104890.

<21> RCHME, Undated, RCHME Inventory: Northamptonshire II (Central), 889551 (Archive). SNN112900.

Record last edited

Sep 27 2022 2:17PM