Monument record 1211 - Potterspury Park (Pury Park, Perry Park)

Deer park first mentioned in 1230. In 1537 the park was enlarged by 154 acres, but it went out of use in the 17th century.

{1} Dates back to at least 1230 when Henry III granted William de Ferrers a deer leap in his park of Perry. Roger de Clifford, forest justiciar, was ordered to allow John, son of John, 20 cartloads of underwood to enclose his park of Pirie. In 1300 Matilda, Countess of Warwick died seised of the manor of Potterspury and an enclosed park, with beasts of the chase, underwood and herbage. In 1485 the park keeper was one Thomas Philipp, and in 1509 Edmund Hadley was appointed bailiff of the lordship and the park of Perry for life. The park was increased in size in 1537 when 150 acres were added. In 1558 there were about 500 deer at Perry, but by 1640 this had dwindled to a combined 200 between both Potterspury and Grafton parks. In 1605 a large consignment totalling 516 timber trees was used to enclose Plum Park and to repair the adjacent parks of Grafton and Potterspury; the total perimeter was reckoned to be 8 miles. In 1660 Lord Mounson cut down all the trees in Pury Park and the greater part of those in Grafton Park for his own use.

{2}{3}{4} The park went out of use in the C17th. Its final boundaries were depicted then, along with Plum and Grafton Parks'.

{5} The park occupies the western part of the parish between Moor End and Watling Street. It is first mentioned in 1230 when William de Ferrers is granted a deer leap in his park called Perry, and it occurs frequently in medieval documents after this date. In 1537 the park was enlarged by 154 acres. The exact position of the early park is not known but is suspected to have occupied the southern part of the later, larger park, possibly to the south of an east flowing stream. The park appears to have gone out of use in the C17th.

{6} Potterspury Lordship was uninclosed. In the 33rd year of reign of Henry VIII it was annexed to the Manor of Grafton. Pury Park, the house of the lodge stands in Potterspury and there are 240 acres in Alderton. At the time of Edward I it was in the hands of Lords of Potterspury. Last century (C17th) it was in the possession of William Harbard, Esq, Paymaster to the Army in 1692. Ambassador to Constantinople John Sharp purchased those parts of Pery Park held by the three daughters of Mr Harbord. At present a suit of law with Sir Rowland Gwyn, son of his fourth daughter Lettic concerning a partition of the remainder of the park estate.

{7} In 1230 William de Ferrers, Earl of Derby, had licence to enclose the wood of Pyrie and convert it into a park. The park was vested in The Crown until Charles I, 1643-4 granted it out to Sir George and A Duck. Pury Park was the seat of John Sharp MP, since when it degenerated to a farmhouse known as Pury Lodge.

<1> STEANE J.M., 1975, The Medieval Parks of Northamptonshire, p.230 (unchecked) (Article). SNN37713.

<2> 1720, NRO 4211 G 3804, (unchecked) (Map). SNN21685.

<3> Collier; Adams, c1727, Map of Potterspury, (unchecked) (Map). SNN20527.

<4> 1776, Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN47218.

<5> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.176-7/Site 8 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<6> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.315 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77325.

<7> Baker G., 1830, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.215-220 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77328.

<8> Clay P.; Courtney P.; Cooper L., 1996, An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment and Survey for The Salcey to Deanshanger Pipeline Duplication, Phase 3, (unchecked) (Report). SNN62532.

<9> Calendar of Close Rolls (undated), 1227-31 p.346 (unchecked) (Document). SNN2187.

<10> Calendar of Close Rolls (undated), 1268-72 p.526 (unchecked) (Document). SNN2187.

<11> Pettit P.A.J., 1968, The Royal Forests of Northamptonshire: A Study in Their Economy 1558-1714, p.14+49+119 (unchecked) (Series). SNN42130.

<12> Hall D., 2001, The Woodland Landscapes of Southern Northamptonshire, p.33-46 (unchecked) (Article). SNN102520.

Record last edited

Feb 5 2025 6:57PM