Monument record 6715 - Brockhall Park

Landscape park to The Hall landscaped circa 1800 by Thomas Reeve Thornton with advice from John Webb. The park replaced formal gardens which were laid out in the 1720s and 1730s by Thomas Thornton III. The park is planted with scattered trees, with some areas of woodland. A narrow lake forms the main focus to the park. Earthworks of the earlier landscaping survive.

{2} Thos.Thornton, Esq. Small area of grass shown around house. Second edition 1791:Thos.Thornton, parkland.

{3} Parish has 12 houses, one is the seat of the residence of Mr Thomas Thornton, Lord of the manor. Supposed to be built by the family of Eyton. The Lordship was enclosed in 1605. In 1625 the manor was purchased by Jn Thornton of Newnham, Esq. from Edward Eyton.

{4} Thornton family removed houses of village to create parkland in C18th.

{8} Alterations to park between 1787 & 1821 led to abandonment and alteration of roads at south-east end of village. Plan of area immediately around village and hall.

{9} Shows the coat of arms of the Eyton family. The common fields of the parish were enclosed by private agreement in 1619-20. The map shows area immediately east of Watling Street, already partly in old enclosures by 1614 so some had taken place prior to the 1619 agreement.

{10} Sketch map of Lordship. Map referenced is photostat of TH199. The first survey of Lordship was under John Thornton III 1615-1692.

{11} Map of Lordship of Brockhall surveyed by Henry Muscott of Flore.

{12} Key to TH 3659 with note resurveyed in 1704 by Muscott.

{13} Map of western half of Lordship of Brockhall with key.

{15} Valentine Knightly's estate in Brockhall.

{16} Eyre and Jeffereys.

{17} Map 3683 is photostat & 3683e is enlarged centre.

{18} Eyre and Jeffereys 2nd edition.

{19} Robert Andrew's estate in Brockhall.

{20} Plan of Grand Junction Canal passing through Thornton estate.

{21} Map of Grand Junction Canal.

{22} Estate of T.Thornton. Parkland appears to extend to river and includes ornamental water and plantations.

{24} Thornton estate through which L&B railway is to pass.

{25} Tithe map apportionment.

{26} J.Adams estate in Brockhall.

{30} Planting shown on map appears to indicate that parkland extended northwards almost as far as Muscott in early C20th. The Grand Junction Canal and the LM&S Railway cut through parkland to the west but it still basically extends westwards as far as Watling Street at this time.

{33} Small enclosures around house. Hollow way in use as a road.

{34} House, park, avenues, series of ponds in front of house, large lake, holloway used as road, canals? Superimposed. Avenues, park goes across lakes down to River Nene.

{35} Drawing by G Clarke (copy of above much enlarged P6283). 145 Brockhall J R Thornton Esq.

{36} Small book: index to George clarke's drawings 1790-1868; indicates house and owner. 146 Brockhall, Rev J.C. Thornton.

{38} Includes photographs of Brockhall Park.

{39} Home of Mrs T W Thornton - stone building of early 17th century.Sir Warine de Lucien, Sheriff 1404; purchased by Sir Rob Tirwhit; 1582 conveyed to Lawrence Eyton and son Edward; 1625 Edward Eyton sold to John Thornton of Newnham. Edward eyton was probably builder of house between 1607 and 1625.

{41} Diverted & stopped-up road; Watling Street & proposed parallel road crosses canal.

{44} Pencil sketch;

{45} Pencil sketch;

{46} South east view;

{48} Small pen & ink sketch c.1850; "….Brockhall, Northants T.R. Thornton, Esq…." marked on reverse; shows entrance front with ha-ha towards M1; Ha-ha & 5-bar gate then fence; no garden or ornamentation on terrace between ha-ha & house;

{50} Laws plans - drains, bell turret, bell gable ceiling, west front etc.

{51} Law and Harris plans. (8 plans).

{58} Sale catalogue 1969: Berry Bros for Mrs H.C.Henderson. Schedule of fields and acreage 152 acres includes Kennell Cottage with 1 and 2 Brockhall cottages. No map or plan.

{60} Sketches include: "Brockhall Church 1844" which also shows portion of hall, "The Dial House near Brockhall", "House at Brockhall", "The Gardener's House at Brockhall".

{61} View of hall from south-west looking up hill from ponds/river at bottom. Good detail of house and parkland shown.

{73} Extensive accounts of work in garden between 1725 & 1731 including tree felling and levelling of ground. Indicates that major works on the garden were commenced from 1725 under Thomas Thornton III 1698-1783.

{74} Records measurements of features in gardens and parkland.

{78} Enlarged copy of P2155/6.

{79} Brockhall Hall Weedon.

{80} View of countryside "near Brockhall".

{81} View near Brockhall used on Northampton Building Society calendar.

{85} Area shaded as parkland relatively small but area showing evidence of parkland planting extends northwards as far as Muscott and westwards as far as Watling Street in spite of interruption by railway & canal development.

{86} Garden was replanned at same time as stables (1799) on picturesque principles.

{87} Thomas (Reeve) Thornton inherited house in 1790 & according to his son began improvements to both house & gardens c.1799 to his own designs.

{93} Landscape park to The Hall created circa 1800 replacing formal gardens of the 1720s. The park is planted with scattered trees, with some areas of woodland. A narrow lake forms the main focus to the park. Earthworks of the earlier landscaping survive. The gardens were laid out in the 1720s and 1730s by Thomas Thornton III. The park was landscaped circa 1800 by Thomas Reeve Thornton with advice from John Webb.

<2> Eyre T. (Revised by Jefferys T.), 1779, Map of the County of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Map). SNN1852.

<3> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.482-83 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77325.

<4> Allison K.J.; Beresford M.W.; Hurst J.G. et al, 1966, The Deserted Villages of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Report). SNN39628.

<5> CORNFORTH J., 1964, Brockhall, Northamptonshire, p.1428-32 (unchecked) (Article). SNN54903.

<6> HARRIS J., 1979, Artist and The Country House, p.231 (unchecked) (Book). SNN60066.

<7> Thornton Papers, (unchecked) (Document). SNN60068.

<8> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1981, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.33 (part checked) (Series). SNN77381.

<9> York T., 1614, Brockhall Enclosure Map?, (unchecked) (Map). SNN41765.

<10> 1672, Brockhall Lordship (Sketch Map), (unchecked) (Map). SNN47435.

<11> Muscott H., 1672, Map of Lordship of Brockhall, (unchecked) (Map). SNN47436.

<12> 1672, Thornton 3660, (unchecked) (Map). SNN47330.

<13> 1672, Thornton 3661, (unchecked) (Map). SNN47331.

<14> HARRIS J., 1712, MAP, (unchecked) (Map). SNN60024.

<15> 1742, Valentine Knightley's Estate (NRO Map 852), (unchecked) (Map). SNN47437.

<17> 1787, Estate Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN41665.

<19> 1793, Robert Andrew's Estate at Brockhall, (unchecked) (Map). SNN47333.

<20> 1795, Grand Junction Canal Works, (unchecked) (Map). SNN47334.

<21> 1800, Map of Grand Junction Canal, (unchecked) (Map). SNN47308.

<22> Smith S., 1821, The Estate of T.Thornton (Thornton 2833), (unchecked) (Map). SNN41669.

<23> Bryant A., 1827, Map of The County of Northampton, (unchecked) (Map). SNN2733.

<24> 1836, London & Birmingham Railway Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN47328.

<25> 1839, Brockhall Tithe Map (NRO Map T31), (unchecked) (Map). SNN41668.

<26> 1900, J. Adams Estate at Brockhall, (unchecked) (Map). SNN47337.

<27> Ordnance Survey, 1900, Second Edition OS 25 Inch Mapping Series (43.04), 43.4 (unchecked) (Map). SNN60025.

<28> Ordnance Survey, 1900, Second Edition OS 25 Inch Mapping Series (43.08), 43.8 (unchecked) (Map). SNN60026.

<29> Ordnance Survey, 1905, Second Edition OS 6 Inch Mapping Series (43NE), 43NE (unchecked) (Map). SNN60027.

<30> Ordnance Survey, 1925, Third Edition, (unchecked) (Map). SNN41675.

<31> 1932, Brockhall Parish Field Names Map (NRO), (unchecked) (Map). SNN54905.

<32> Ordnance Survey, 1937, MAP, (unchecked) (Map). SNN60028.

<33> Plan 1672, (unchecked) (Map). SNN47338.

<34> Plan 1787, (unchecked) (Map). SNN47339.

<35> CLARKE G., 1850, P2155, (unchecked) (Drawing). SNN47340.

<36> CLARKE G., 1850, P2156, (unchecked) (Drawing). SNN47341.

<37> 1908, Brockhall Hall, (unchecked) (Document). SNN60029.

<38> 1931, Northamptonshire County Magazine, p.276-288 (unchecked) (Magazine). SNN47342.

<39> Gotch J.A., 1939, Squires' Homes and Other Old Buildings of Northamptonshire, p.32 (unchecked) (Book). SNN39616.

<40> 1933, Northamptonshire County Magazine, p.100-5+276-277 (unchecked) (Article). SNN54630.

<41> 1836, Map 3340, (unchecked) (Map). SNN47336.

<42> 1850, NAS 50, p.166-7 (unchecked) (Document). SNN60031.

<43> Davies S., 1787, Estate Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN47332.

<44> CLARKE G., 1850, Pencil Sketches, 79A (unchecked) (Drawing). SNN47344.

<45> CLARKE G., 1850, Pencil Sketches, 20A (unchecked) (Drawing). SNN47345.

<46> CLARKE G., 1850, Pencil Sketches, p.34-5 (unchecked) (Drawing). SNN47346.

<47> CLARKE G., 1850, GCPS BK34, p.79 (unchecked) (Drawing). SNN54906.

<48> 1850, P4138, (unchecked) (Drawing). SNN47347.

<49> HARTSHORNE, 1853, 22 No.7, (unchecked) (Drawing). SNN60032.

<50> LAW, PLAN 1863 BOX 3, (unchecked) (Plan). SNN48680.

<51> Law; Harris, PLAN 1912 BOX 40., (unchecked) (Plan). SNN48681.

<52> 1700, Survey, (unchecked) (Document). SNN60033.

<53> Thornton 1-2059, (unchecked) (Document). SNN54339.

<54> THB 1-206, (unchecked) (Document). SNN54340.

<55> Thornton Estate Papers, FS 43/1-7 (unchecked) (Document). SNN54341.

<56> 1899, Tenant Right Valuation, (unchecked) (Map). SNN54342.

<57> Glebe Terriers, (unchecked) (Document). SNN54343.

<58> 1969, Sale Catalogue Ref.47, (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN47348.

<59> 1992, Sale Catalogue TH B 1-206, (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN60034.

<60> CLARKE G., 1844, Pencil Sketches, (checked) (Drawing). SNN45695.

<61> CLARKE G., 1850, Pencil Sketches, 8 (checked) (Drawing). SNN46345.

<62> Ordnance Survey, 1950, Ordnance Survey 1950s Mapping Series (SP66), SP66 (unchecked) (Map). SNN59768.

<63> Baker G., 1830, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.112-19 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77327.

<64> Gotch J.A., 1936, The Old Halls and Manor Houses of Northamptonshire, p.32 (unchecked) (Book). SNN44101.

<65> MARKHAM C.A., 1923, Brockhall, Northamptonshire, p.77-81 (unchecked) (Series). SNN56243.

<66> 1800, Estate Accounts TH 2046, (unchecked) (Document). SNN56211.

<67> 1800, Estate Accounts TH 2051, (unchecked) (Document). SNN54907.

<68> 1800, Estate Accounts TH 2489, (unchecked) (Document). SNN54719.

<69> 1800, Estate Accounts TH 2490, (unchecked) (Document). SNN56213.

<70> 1637, PRO PROB 11/162, PRO PROB 11/162 (unchecked) (Document). SNN56214.

<71> Tillemans P., 1721, Front of Mr Thorntons House at Brockhole, (unchecked) (Drawing). SNN41761.

<72> Webb J., 1799, A Plan of The Demesne Lands at Brockhall, The Seat of Thos. Reeve Thornton Esq, With Some Alterations by John Webb, (unchecked) (Map). SNN56215.

<73> 1731, Estate Accounts TH2034, (unchecked) (Document). SNN41773.

<74> 1800, Common Place Book, (unchecked) (Book). SNN41666.

<75> HALL D.N., 1982, Medieval Fields, (unchecked) (Series). SNN56218.

<76> HALL D.N., 1995, The Open Fields of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Series). SNN56219.

<77> MAP, (unchecked) (Map). SNN54357.

<78> CLARKE G., 1850, P6283, (unchecked) (Drawing). SNN41671.

<79> 1908, NRO LBY 296, (unchecked) (Drawing). SNN41672.

<80> P8087/93, P8087/93 (unchecked) (Drawing). SNN48700.

<81> 1861, P3042, (unchecked) (Drawing). SNN41673.

<82> Northamptonshire Notes and Queries, 77+80 (unchecked) (Series). SNN56220.

<83> CLARKE G., 1850, Pencil Sketches, 20C (unchecked) (Drawing). SNN56221.

<84> Ordnance Survey, 1926, Ordnance Survey Third Edition, 43.8 (checked) (Map). SNN56223.

<85> Ordnance Survey, 1880, First Edition OS 6 Inch Mapping Series (MULTIPLES!), 43NE (checked) (Map). SNN41967.

<86> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.128 (checked) (Series). SNN1320.

<87> Heward J.; Taylor R., 1996, The Country Houses of Northamptonshire, p.110 (checked) (Book). SNN41757.

<88> Smith J.M., 2003, The Story of Brockhall, Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Report). SNN105004.

<89> Illman Young Landscape Design, 2004, Brockhall Park, Brockhall, Northamptonshire: A Report on Its Historic Significance & The Impact of Potential Future Development, (unchecked) (Report). SNN105858.

<90> Illman Young Landscape Design, 2004, Brockhall Park, Brockhall, Northamptonshire: Report Figures, (unchecked) (Report). SNN105859.

<91> Mowl T.; Hickman C., 2008, The Historic Gardens of England: Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Series). SNN106082.

<92> Bryant A., 1827, Map of The County of Northampton, (unchecked) (Map). SNN2733.

<93> Ordnance Survey, 1950s, Ordnance Survey 2.5 Inch Series (General), SP66 (unchecked) (Map). SNN54933.

<94> English Heritage, Register of Parks & Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England (2004, Northamptonshire), Part 30. Revised 28/05/2004 (Report). SNN116093.

Record last edited

Feb 3 2025 8:09PM