Monument record 975 - Medieval/post-medieval rabbit warren and possible Deer Park, Long Buckby

A 16th century rabbit warren and possible earlier deer park at Long Buckby. Summary from record 7417/1: A rabbit warren was mentioned in 1310, still extant in 1590

{1} A medieval rabbit lies at the east end of the parish extremity centred at SP 650682. Earthworks of a considerable rampart on the south-east may suggest there was a deer park in the area of the warren.

{3} A reconstruction of the former open fields has been undertaken using surviving ridge and furrow and the linear headlands of ploughed out furlongs. A rabbit warren mentioned in the C16th has been identified at SP650682, and the rampart height suggests that it may have been previously been a deer park

{4} Old inclosures marked on 18th century mapping; fieldname: Lodge Closes;

{5} In 1310 there was a rabbit warren in the main manor. It was still in existence in 1343-4 and 1415 and by 1485 was held at farm for £4. In 1590 Sir Christopher Hatton held the ‘warren of conyes’ by indenture for 42/8d. At this time there was also belonging to the manor, in addition to the Warren common, a piece of ground called the south heath, which was also common. In 1720 Bridges recorded that there was an open warren on the heath but that ‘some years ago’ an enclosed warren was destroyed there. However the lodge still stood at that time as did another building on the heath, known as The Folly. This lay on the edge of the common adjacent to the main road and, at least in the early 19th century, it was a farm. The warren and the south heath both lay on an extensive area of Northampton Sand at the eastern edge of the township. The Inclosure Award and map of 1778 defines the extent of the Warren and of the North and South heaths, to the south of the Lodge closes.

<1> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1978, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1977, 13/187 (Journal). SNN2192.

<2> HALL D.N., 1978, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter (8), p.22 (unchecked) (Newsletter). SNN60830.

<3> 1978, Medieval Village Research Group (Vol.26), 26/10 (Annual Report). SNN13442.

<4> 1765, MAP, (unchecked) (Map). SNN13445.

<5> FOARD G., 2000, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Long Buckby (Medieval + Post Medieval), (unchecked) (Report). SNN100746.

Record last edited

Feb 3 2025 8:51PM