Monument record 4156/1/12 - Formal Garden in North Bailey Area of Rockingham Castle

{1} Early formal gardens in the former bailey of the medieval castle comprising terraced lawns and stone walls. Also a yew walk of C16th/17th date and a rose garden.

{2} Geophysical survey of gardens at Rockingham Castle - revealed evidence of former garden design in the form of a twin loop (or figure of eight design) probably a walkway or path and a central feature in each loop. Appears to be contained within rectangle of broader pathway with short paths running in between.

{3} The resistivity survey revealed a series of high and low resistance anomalies which may indicate the former presence of a garden design. The south west quadrant indicated two right angled anomolies of high resistance possible denoting the former presence of pathways. The south eastern quadrant shows a rectilinear anomaly of high resistance. This may denote a former fish pond. It is known that there were at one time fish ponds at Rockingham.
A figure of eight anomaly revealed immediately to the west and south of Salvin's Tower may denote the remains of a path. Surrounding the figure of eight design is a rectillinear anomaly running firstly on a north south aligment and then at right angles turns towards Salvin's Tower on an east west aligment. The anomaly as a high resistance reading of between 50-60 ohms whichmay denote the remains of a path/wall.

{4} Former garden design and features which may have formed part of the castle. Restivity survey of tennis lawn. A twin loop or figure-of-eight feature, probably a former path, which appears to have been enclosed within the rectangle of a broader pathway and at various points short paths connect the two. To discrete anomalies in the middle of each loop presumably denote cental features of some kind.

{5} Geophysical survey of the terrace garden within the walls of Rockingham castle revealed evidence of former garden design in addition to features which may have formed part of the castle. A resistivity survey of the tennis lawn revealed a twin loop or figure-of-eight feature, probablky a former path. It appears to have been enclosed within the rectangle of a broader pathwayand at various points short paths connect the two. Two discrete anomalies in the middle of each loop presumably denote central features of some kind.

{6} Early formal gardens are said to have been laid out in the former bailey of the medieval castle in the 16th century. The present terraced lawns reveted by a stone wall on the line of the bailey wall, which was demolished at some time after 1615. The lawn and the yew walk were in existence in the 17th century and altered in the 18th century. A 19th century circular rose garden on the site of the motte. A grove was added in the valley in the mid 19th century. The gardens have been maintained and further developed in the 20th century. Geophysical survey on the tennis lawn has revealed probable evidence of former garden design in the form of a figure of eight design, probably a walkway or path, and a central feature in each loop.

<1> English Heritage, 1991, Register of Parks & Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England (1991, Northamptonshire), (checked) (Report). SNN1167.

<2> SOCIETY FOR POST MEDIEVAL ARCHAEOLOGY, 1994, Post-Medieval Archaeology (28), 28/156 (checked) (Journal). SNN3222.

<3> Masters P., 1993, Geophysical Survey At Rockingham Castle, Near Corby, Northants, September 1992-1993, (unchecked) (Report). SNN101225.

<4> SHAW M., 1993-4, Rockingham, Rockingham Castle, p.190 (checked) (Journal). SNN104219.

<5> MASTERS P.; HOLMES M., 1994, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter, p.22 (unchecked) (Newsletter). SNN40019.

<6> FOARD G., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Rockingham (Medieval and Post Medieval), (checked) (Digital archive). SNN100473.

Record last edited

Apr 18 2013 3:45PM