Monument record 4034/0/1 - Medieval/Post Medieval Fishponds

Fishpond remains West of Marsh Farm

{1} Fishponds at Great Oakley SP866859. The fishponds lie in the valley of Harpers Brook, Immediately west of Marsh Farm on Upper Estuarine Series geology. RCHME recorded the site as a single pond, but in fact it consists of at least two units: a rectangular embanked pond to the north, about 1.5m deep and presumably fed by natural seepage; and a second formed by a large dam running half way across the valley with a further bank continuing upstream on the south side to form a large, irregular pond in the valley bottom. Both are now drained, the stream having been diverted around the pond in a deep culvert prior to 1820 (NRO Map 898).
Although damaged in several places by modern pipelines the original line of the earthwork was generally recoverable. However, it proved impossible to survey what appeared to be a linear bank parallel to the recorded ponds in the dense scrub on the south because of both the vegetation and damage by the pipelines. Hence it was impossible to establish whether this represented an additional pond. The area has planning permission for residential development. Earthwork survey: Fig.13.

{4} Rectangular in plan; 100m x 10m X 1.5m deep.

{7} Rapid survey of the site revealed that the eastern part of the ponds was destroyed through new development. The remainder to the west is within CBC's ownership. To the south west and north east of the play area they are degraded but still recognisable. The western part of the long thin northernmost pond is intact though heavily overgrown internally. The south side of the pond remains a prominent earthwork up to 1.5m high, under grass. A linear bank in south west corner of the monument alongside the brook is also intact but has suffered some encroachment along its northern side from the play area. Adjacent to the east side of the play area and north east from the linear bank is a low lying marshy area.

<1> FOARD G.R., 1979, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter, 9/46+47 (checked) (Journal). SNN31143.

<2> 1978, Comments on Planning Application, (checked) (Note). SNN109116.

<3> Foard, G., 1978, Great Oakley Fishponds, (checked) (Unpublished Report). SNN57342.

<4> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.25/Site 18 (checked) (Series). SNN77380.

<5> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.197/Site 18 (unchecked) (Series). SNN77382.

<6> Taylor P., 1992, Fishponds Report 1992, (checked) (Report). SNN1339.

<7> Cadman G., 2001, Great Oakley Fishponds, (checked) (Notes). SNN101130.

<8> Cadman, G., 2001, Corby Fishpond, (checked) (Photographs). SNN103362.

<9> 1820, Great Oakley Estate Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN75726.

<10> Aerial Photograph, AP (CUAP AXS 67) (Photographs). SNN112974.

<11> Vertical Aerial Photograph, AP (RAF VAP F21 82/RAF/865, 0239-40) (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN112695.

Record last edited

Mar 28 2022 3:07PM