Monument record 7085 - Steane Park

Pleasure grounds and parkland associated with Steane Park House. In the pleasure grounds there are interconnected fishponds, channels and former water features which may have originated in the medieval period but which appear to have been remodelled in the 17th or 18th century as part of the designed landscape.

{1} Shows a large house within a sub-rectangular enclosed parkland. The northern boundary is formed by the river. Owner marked as being Earl Spencer.

{2} In 1753 Steane was described by Horace Walpole as the "remains of the mansion house, but quite in ruins". Baker records that it was deserted and taken down between 1740 and 1750, except the kitchen and part of the inferior offices, which are converted into a commodious farm house.
Sir Thomas Crewe married Temperance Bray and was at the time MP for Northampton and Speaker of Commons under James I and Charles I (1623-25). His son John was created Baron of Steane in 1660, and is referred to by Pepys. The third Baron Steane was also The Bishop of Durham. In 1744 the house was sold to Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough.

{5} A house besides the Duke of Kent's. The Ouse passes through Steane Park. The land was held by the Bray family in the reign of Elizabeth I. Temperance Bray married Sir Thomas Crewe whose daughter Jemina married Henry Duke of Kent. Henry succeeded to the manor in 1721.

{6} The lordship is all old inclosure, c.1000 acres, the whole belonging to George John E. Spencer. The manor house stood 2 miles south of Brackley in a walled park of about 150 acres. It was probably erected c.1495 by Sir Reginald Bray. In 1744 Sarah Duchess of Marlborough devised the estate to John Spencer.

{7} Earl Spencer. (Also shown on 2nd edition.)

{8} The village of Steane was deserted between 1330-1450. By 1428 the manor was held by the Lovel family, but forfeited to the Crown in 1485. It was later sold to Thomas Barker whose son kept 1,000 sheep here in 1547. A new chapel was built within the park c.1620.

{10} Illustration of Steane in the early C18th. Sheet of water on which float small rowing boat and three swans. A walled garden and behind it the main house.

<1> Eyre T. (Revised by Jefferys T.), 1779, Map of the County of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Map). SNN1852.

<2> GIBSON J.S.W., 1976, Three Lost Northamptonshire Houses and Their Owners, p.311-318 (unchecked) (Article). SNN41445.

<3> Oswald A.; Esdaile K., 1938, The Chapel at Steane Park, p.12-17 (unchecked) (Article). SNN54946.

<4> , 1950, Ordnance Survey 2.5 Inch Series, SP53 (unchecked) (Map). SNN56191.

<5> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.196 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77325.

<6> Baker G., 1830, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.681 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77327.

<8> Allison K.J.; Beresford M.W.; Hurst J.G. et al, 1966, The Deserted Villages of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Report). SNN39628.

<9> Bryant A., 1827, Map of The County of Northampton, (unchecked) (Map). SNN2733.

<10> Unknown, 1725 (circa), Steane, (unchecked) (Painting). SNN107417.

<11> Ordnance Survey, 1880, First Edition OS 6 Inch Mapping Series (59SW), (unchecked) (Map). SNN109159.

Record last edited

Jun 11 2024 11:38AM