Monument record 2923 - Collyweston Deer Park

Park probably created 1453-5 and remodelled in 1486

{2} No park is mentioned here until in the latter part of the reign of Edward IV and it was probably not enclosed until the building of the mansion house of Collyweston in the C15th. It is mentioned at the end of the reign of Edward IV before it came into the possession of Lady Margaret Beaufort.

{3} Park probably created 1453-5 and remodelled in 1486. The parkland is not shown by the time of Eyre's map of 1779.

{7} Fishpond management in the early C16th is well documented; this is when the manor was held by Margaret Countess of Richmond. Some of the ponds within the park were constructed at this time. Much more documentary detail is given.

{8} Mr Tryon, Lord of the Manor hath here a neat house with gardens on the steep of the hill and a park which some time since was disparked. Quotes Leland on Margaret Countess of Richmond's Palace.

{9} The Lord of the Manor, John de Hotham, was granted free warren in his demenses of Collyweston in 1328 but no park here is mentioned until the latter part of the reign of Edward IV, and it was therefore probably not enclosed until the building of the mansion house in the C15th. In 1478 Nicholas Vicary was granted the office of keeper of the inn or site of the lordship of Collyweston with the gardens pertaining to it and the parks of Collyweston. In 1631 Sir Robert Heath obtained leave to enclose a new park from the woodlands not exceeding 500 acres, because in the grant to Patrick Mawle it is covenanted that 100 deer shall be kept in the old park 'which is of but 108 acres and has no covert'.
Before Bridges wrote in 1720 the house had been almost entirely pulled down and the park disparked.

{11} Medieval deer park of 1438 onwards - the owner was Sir Ralph de Cromwell.

{12} Records include the making of a hovel for herons on 2nd July 1500. A new stew is made on 11th May 1502, and three new ponds are made next to the garden in the park on 17th May 1504.

{13} Shown as 'Parks' on enclosure map. Extent uncertain.

{14} The park was already in existence by the end of the C15th. It was probably enclosed by Prter or by Cromwell. In 1631 Sir Robert Heath obtained permission to enclose a new park from the woodlands because the old park was only 108 acres and had no covert. (This new park, if it was ever made, was perhaps in the south of the parish and centred on Collyweston Great Wood. By 1720 the park had been disparked.
The park occupies some 70ha, its exact area can be ascertained from the various field names incorporating the word 'park' shown on the enclosure and tithe maps of the parish, both dated 1842. The actual bounds of the park are less well-defined. The western boundary is the River Welland, whilst most of the southern boundary is marked by a low bank surmounted by the remains of a largely rebuilt dry-stone wall (SK98600252-SK99350230). No definite evidence of the eastern boundary can be traced, except at its north end (SK99150324-SK99120358), south of Collyweston Bridge, where another low bank, on the east side of a wide drainage channel, has the footings and rubble of a former dry-stone wall on it. Within the park are also the extensive remains of ridge and furrow, which presumably pre-date it. Map showing possible boundary Fig.47.

{15} Parkland at Collyweston, the site of a mansion house and fishponds (Scheduled Ancient Monuments).

<1> 1782, Earl of Exeter's Day Books, (unchecked) (Diary). SNN48059.

<2> STEANE J.M., 1975, The Medieval Parks of Northamptonshire, p.220-1 (checked) (Article). SNN37713.

<3> BURT J., NOTE, (unchecked) (Notes). SNN45949.

<4> Saxton, 1576, Map of Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire & Rutland, (unchecked) (Map). SNN42112.

<5> Speed J., 1610, Map of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Map). SNN559.

<7> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.187 Site 8 (unchecked) (Series). SNN77382.

<8> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.433 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77326.

<9> Serjeantson R.M.; Ryland W. (Editors), 1906, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.552-53 (checked) (Series). SNN100369.

<10> 1906, Associated Architectural Societies Reports, p.569-74 (unchecked) (Series). SNN35152.

<11> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SK90SE6 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<12> Glynne S., 1859, Church Notes of Sir Stephen Glynne, 42 p.1-2 (unchecked) (Manuscript). SNN39492.

<13> 1841, Collyweston Enclosure Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN102458.

<14> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1975, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.30-31+37 Site 8 (checked) (Series). SNN77379.

<15> Ordnance Survey, 1950s, Ordnance Survey 2.5 Inch Series (General), SK90 (unchecked) (Map). SNN54933.

Record last edited

Mar 11 2025 9:50AM