Monument record 889 - Brockhall

Deserted settlement in Brockhall Park. It was probably depopulated when the park was landscaped in the early 18th century. Slight earthworks have been identified to the west of the hall.

{1} Brockhall was probably subject to post-tudor depopulation. It was enclosed in 1605. There were 12 houses when Bridges was writing. In 1327 Harleston = hamlet of Brockhall.

{2} In 1625 the manor was sold to the Thornton family, who built the mansion. This included 18 houses which were removed to the present site of the village when the park was created.

{6} The management plan identified fourteen areas of archaeological potential within Brockhall.

{7} Centred SP 631626: The owner, Colonel Thornton, indicated a disturbed area in the park close to the house where he had seen parch-marks suggesting foundations. Scattered areas of minor disturbance were evident in the park extending westward downhill from the hall. They form no coherent pattern but may mark the site of the hamlet

{8} SP 634 625/ SP 632 629: Brockhall listed with Muscott (SP 66 SW 9) 1 kilometre to the north west in most early documents(Domesday,1301 Lay Subsidy). Separate mention in Nomina Villarum 1316. Muscott and Brockhall 5 Poll Tax payers 1377 but most must have been from Brockhall since Muscott was probably abandoned by then. Map of 1787 shows road on different alignment indicated by remaining hollow way. 3 closes north of church abandoned by 1793. Probabaly always a small single street village. Building of the hall in 1625 may have led to removal of other buildings south east of church [RCHM plan].

<1> Beresford M.W., 1954, The Lost Villages of England, p.366 (unchecked) (Extract). SNN7102.

<2> Allison K.J.; Beresford M.W.; Hurst J.G. et al, 1966, The Deserted Villages of Northamptonshire, p.36 (unchecked) (Report). SNN39628.

<3> 1606, Brockhall Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN59863.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP66SW10 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<5> Smith J.M., 2003, The Story of Brockhall, Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Report). SNN105004.

<6> West Northamptonshire Council, 2022, Brockhall Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan (Report). SNN114828.

<7> Seaman, BH, 1969, Field investigators comments, 21/Feb (Notes). SNN111907.

<8> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, P.32-33 (Series). SNN77380.

<9> Ryland, W, Adkins, D, and Serjeantson, R M, 1902, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, P. 325 (Series). SNN100368.

<10> PRO series E179, E179 155/31, /3. /27, /134 E179/254/14 (Document). SNN115882.

<11> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, P. 483 (Book). SNN77325.

<12> RCHME, Undated, RCHME Inventory: Northamptonshire II (Central), 889772 (Archive). SNN112900.

Record last edited

Jan 31 2025 3:00PM