Monument record 1010 - Althorp Park

Landscape park and formal gardens at Althorp House. The park was first laid out in 1512 and was extended many times between 1567 and 1901. Earthworks of the 17th century layout survive as earthworks. The grounds around the house were laid out by Henry Holland circa 1790 and by W M Teulon circa 1860. The park also contains an arboretum which was planted during the 1820s, with further planting from 1863. An engraving of circa 1700 depicits some formal gardens at Althorp. Lancelot Brown drew up several garden schemes circa 1780. The present garden, present to the north and west of the house were laid out in 1860 by Teulon.

{2} Park of 500 acres. It was bought in 1508 by John Spencer, and licence to impark was granted in 1512. Records of plantings, and a heronry located in the north part of park. The present house dates to 1688. The parkland was improved by Capability Brown c.1780.

{3} Anciently a hamlet, now the seat of the fifth Earl of Sunderland, and stocked with deer. The manor was bought from John Catesby of Ashby St Ledgers. Includes an illustration of 1721.

{4} A park of 500 acres in a parish of 790 acres. It is held entirely by the Spencer family; bought in 1509 by John Spencer. In 1512 he gained licence to impark 300 acres of land, including 100 acres of wood and 40 acres of water.

{5} Maps.

{6} The dairy was built in 1786 of ironstone with a pyramidal roof. It stands by the round Oval Lake. To the north-west is a standing or falconry of 1611. During 1787-91 Henry Holland gave the house its present appearance; he filled in the moat and improved the park and gardens with the help of Samuel Lapidge.

{9} The park was visited by John Evelyn in 1675 and 1688; he talks of the prospect of Holdenby House presenting itself as a "Roman ruin"; other miscellaneous information provided. Improvements by Brown c.1780.

{10} Illustration. Anciently a hamlet or township consisting of several houses, now a single house standing in the midst of a park, which is elegantly laid out, well wooded and stocked with deer. John Spencer bought the manor from John Catesby of Ashby St Ledgers in 24th year of Henry VIII.

{14} Improved by Brown c.1780 (after Brown's death?).

{18} At Althorp the old house, though enlarged and altered, remains on its C16th site. The formal gardens which lay around it were removed in the 1730s and a new landscape park appeared. One important feature of the park was to be an avenue of trees extending along the rising ground from the centre of the house. Yet merely to plant the trees would not have created the desired effect, for some 400m from the house a natural spur sloped down across its line, partially obscuring the intended view. The problem was solved by the Spencers, or their unknown gardener, by cutting away the end of the spur entirely. The result is that the spur now ends with an abrupt scarp2.5m high and almost 200m long. The rest has disappeared and the avenue now extends across continuously rising ground.
In addition we can see an example of the second type of feature which field archaeologists should look for. The park is of necessity on land which was under cultivation in the medieval period and large areas of it are covered by remains of ridge and furrow ploughing. But along the lone of the avenue, and indeed along other avenues in the park, the ridge and furrow has been carefully flattened and replaced by a raised carriage drive or path 6m wide and only 0.25m high. This shows that the avenue was intended to be used as an access way as well as a view.

{19} Holdenby House prospect is described as a "Roman ruin". John Evelyn visited Althorp 1675-1688; "…park walled-in with hewn stone and planted with rows and walks of trees and canals and fishponds, and stored with game".

{20} Ideas centred around the approach to the house and its connection to the stables and private pleasure grounds next to house.

{24} In 1772 the Earl was busy building the Spencer's House in London, Althorp was neglected and part of its roof fell in. In 1783 Geo.Jn. Succeeded his father as the second Earl, and brought in Henry Holland to re-model the parkland. Henry Holland's work cost £20,257.18.5d. Capability Brown had visited in 1780 and made suggestions for improvement but had died by 1787 when the work was actually carried out.

{27} Lapidge's description of the filling in of the moats etc for parkland improvement in 1787 and an account for Lapidge's work in 1787. Also letters from Lapidge dating to 1790.

{28} Date stones within Althorp Park.

{30} Althorp article describing a royal visit in 1603.

{32} Copy of map of Althorp made in 1778. This was used for the Tithe Award in 1840. A simple plan; trees are shown and the circular pond with an island in the middle, and stream. The total acreage of Earl Spencer is calculated at 786a.31.29p. With a total rent charge of £6.13.4.

{33} Althorp festivities in 1857; misfit in box 452.

{34} Letter describing two days of conversations with several guests including Lady Caroline Lamb's husband.

{35} Letter from Lady Spencer about the date stones in Althorp Park.

{36} Notes on deeds and terriers compiled by Rev.Cardies c.1925.

{46} ?Neale's engraving.

{48} Lapidge estimate of 1787.

{49} Visited in August 1742. The Duke of Marlborough also improved the beautiful park in a low part of which the house stands with a round basin of water having an eight in the middle and communicating with a short serpentine river. A vast plane tree stands in the park and many fine walks between trees that arch together at top reminding one of Ham walk in Surrey.

{52} Mentions a copy of the 1790 plan of Althorp showing Holland's proposals for gardens.

{53} Refers to correspondence of widow of the first Earl dated 24th January 1780. She wrote to Mrs Howe "…Mr Brown has been giving some very excellent advice about this place… he is adverse from many things that I thought he had been for and I think all his ideas are good… he is against removing your Barns…".

{58} Licence was granted in 1512 to Sir John Spencer to impark 300 acres of land and 100 acres of wood and 40 acres of waste. The park was enlarged by Charles, Earl of Sunderland 1729-33.

{64} SP 681651 Visible remains probably date to 1660s when Earl Spencer employed Le Notre to lay out the park and gardens. Plan illustrated by Kip 1709. Alterations made in the 1730s, early 19th century and the 1860s. Earlier formal plan removed and more informal design created. Date stones in park range from 1567 to 1901 and commemorate tree planting. Traces of earthworks remain though terraces and walled garden now gone.

{65} The park was first laid out in 1512 and was extended many times between 1567 and 1901. Earthworks of the 17th century layout survive as earthworks. The grounds around the house were laid out by Henry Holland circa 1790 and by W M Teulon circa 1860. The park also contains an arboretum which was planted during the 1820s, with further planting from 1863. An engraving of circa 1700 depicits some formal gardens at Althorp. Lancelot Brown drew up several garden schemes circa 1780. The present garden, present to the north and west of the house were laid out in 1860 by Teulon.

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

<2> Spencer Collection, (unchecked) (Archive). SNN56462.

<3> Morton J., 1712, The Natural History of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Book). SNN10113.

<4> Baker G., 1822-36, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.104 (unchecked) (Book). SNN10400.

<5> 1921, Country Life (Vol.49), p.714-21 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN42641.

<6> 1921, Country Life (Vol.50), p.14-20 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN42642.

<7> 1960, Country Life (1960), p.1122-25 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN54923.

<8> 1981, Country Life (1981), p.375-78 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN56466.

<9> Supplementary File, (unchecked) (Notes). SNN51626.

<10> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.479 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77325.

<11> Allison K.J.; Beresford M.W.; Hurst J.G. et al, 1966, The Deserted Villages of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Report). SNN39628.

<13> Saxton, 1576, Map of Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire & Rutland, (unchecked) (Map). SNN42112.

<14> KIP, 1709, Britannia Illustrata, (unchecked) (Illustration). SNN42523.

<15> Speed J., 1610, Map of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Map). SNN559.

<16> Evans J.; Britton J., 1810, The Beauties of England and Wales (Northamptonshire), (unchecked) (Book). SNN1351.

<17> GOTCH J.A., 1940, Manor Houses of Northamptonshire, p.67-69 (unchecked) (Book). SNN58776.

<18> Taylor C., 1983, The Archaeology of Gardens, p.60-62 (checked) (Series). SNN41440.

<19> Evelyn J., 1680 (circa), Untitled Source, (unchecked) (Notes). SNN42541.

<20> Jacques D., Georgian Gardens, (unchecked) (Book). SNN42524.

<21> BEEVERELL J., 1707, Les Delices de La Grande Bretagne, p.872 (unchecked) (Series). SNN54799.

<22> OVERTON H., 1724, Britannia Illustrata, Pl.13 (unchecked) (Book). SNN56433.

<23> DEFOE D., 1778, Tour, p.384-5 (unchecked) (Document). SNN56434.

<24> Churchill R., 1954, Fifteen Famous English Houses, p.145 (unchecked) (Book). SNN42544.

<25> 1854, The Cottage Gardener (13), 59-62+77-80+98+100 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN56461.

<26> Corris J., 1778, Althorp Estate Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN56437.

<27> Miscellaneous Collection, Referred to in J.Burt's card index. (Document). SNN42548.

<28> IL 5108, (unchecked) (Document). SNN42550.

<29> Northamptonshire Notes and Queries, p.137 (unchecked) (Series). SNN56438.

<30> 1973, ZB 1150, (unchecked) (Document). SNN42551.

<31> 1602, YZ 1150, (unchecked) (Document). SNN54800.

<32> 1778, Althorp Tithe Map (T176), (unchecked) (Map). SNN42553.

<33> 1857, BOX 452, (unchecked) (Notes). SNN42556.

<34> 1815, Letters (TH 2850), (unchecked) (Correspondence). SNN42557.

<35> 1910, Letters, (unchecked) (Correspondence). SNN42558.

<36> Miscellaneous (SOX 413/1), SOX 413/1 (unchecked) (Document). SNN42559.

<37> BLOMES, 1673, Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN54781.

<38> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.81 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<39> MORDEN, 1695, Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN56443.

<40> MORDEN, 1722, Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN54763.

<41> HARRIS, 1712, Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN56444.

<42> Estate Records, (unchecked) (Archive). SNN56445.

<43> Spencer Collection (Rylands), (unchecked) (Archive). SNN56446.

<44> Estate Vouchers (Althorp SOX592-598), (unchecked) (Document). SNN54764.

<45> KINGSLEY N., 1987, How Far Should We Trust John Kip?, (unchecked) (Article). SNN56447.

<46> Illustration P/3384, P/3384 (unchecked) (Engraving). SNN42561.

<47> KIP, 1709, Britannia Illustrata, (unchecked) (Engraving). SNN54765.

<48> 1787, Letter re Lapidge Estimate, (unchecked) (Correspondence). SNN42562.

<49> Markham S., 1984, John Loveday of Cavendish, p.343-5 (unchecked) (Book). SNN42564.

<50> SUNDERLAND, Ambassador Extraordinary in Paris 1672-3 and 1678-9 (John Evelyn's diary), (unchecked) (Diary). SNN56430.

<51> Postcard of Althorp, (unchecked) (Postcard). SNN54336.

<52> Anthony J., 1979, Gardens of Britain, (unchecked) (Series). SNN34164.

<53> Stroud D., 1780, Capability Brown, (unchecked) (Correspondence). SNN42575.

<54> Hall D. N., 2000, Althorp Park, Northamptonshire, SP 68/65, Ridge And Furrow 1998, (unchecked) (Notes). SNN100630.

<55> Mowl T.; Hickman C., 2008, The Historic Gardens of England: Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Series). SNN106082.

<56> Ordnance Survey, 1950s, Ordnance Survey 2.5 Inch Series (General), SP66 (unchecked) (Map). SNN54933.

<57> Bryant A., 1827, Map of The County of Northampton, (unchecked) (Map). SNN2733.

<58> STEANE J.M., 1975, The Medieval Parks of Northamptonshire, p.219 (unchecked) (Article). SNN37713.

<59> 1956, Northamptonshire Record Society, p.61 (unchecked) (Document). SNN12233.

<60> 1910, Northamptonshire Notes and Queries (Series 2), p.65-76 (unchecked) (Series). SNN12234.

<61> Stamper P., 1998, The Historic Landscape Of Althorp Park - An Outline Of The Designed Landscape, With A Rapid Assessment, p.3 (checked) (Report). SNN100246.

<62> Tillemans P., 1721, View of The Earl of Sunderlands Seat at Althorp With the Old Gate House and Distant View of Brington Church, (unchecked) (Drawing). SNN109154.

<63> Shipley W., 1754 (circa), Views of Noblemen's and Gentlemen's Seats, Parks etc., (unchecked) (Illustration). SNN109385.

<64> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1981, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.1 (Series). SNN77381.

<65> English Heritage, 1994, Register of Parks & Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England (1994, Leicestershire), Part 30; Northamptonshire, 27-Nov-2000 (Report). SNN42820.

<66> Royal Air Force, 1940s, RAF Vertical Aerial Photographs, RAF VAP CPE/UK/1994,4368-9 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN105266.

<67> Historic England, Undated, Photographs of Althorp taken for Earl Spencer, the owner, BL11671 (Archive). SNN113526.

Record last edited

Feb 3 2025 8:52PM