Monument record 3253 - Higham Park

An early 12th century deer park, first mentioned in 1155, it was disemparked between 1649 and 1671. The boundary of the park, which is still largely complete, can be traced as a large bank up to 2 metres high and 8 metres wide. In places vestiges of the original inner ditch are also visble.

{3} Dates from 1166 onwards, deerpark owner was The Crown. It was first imparked or at least enlarged during the reign of Henry II. The Crown granted the park to the ancestors of Sir Rob. Long Bart. The present possessor is Sir Jas. Long Bart.

{9} A deer park occupies most of the southern part of the parish, covering some 240ha. It is first mentioned in 1155, but was certainly in existence before then and probably dates to the early C12th. Its history is well documented throughout the medieval period and later. It was disparked at some time between 1649 and 1671. Plans: Figs 78 + 79.

{18} Historic England has received an application to assess Higham Park, Newton Bromswold, Northamptonshire for scheduling. The Medieval Deer Park was created by William Peverel before 1135, and later enlarged in 1166. At the north-west end of the park is the site of the scheduled moated Park Keeper’s Great Lodge which dates to at least 1327, when it is first mentioned in documentary sources. The former Great Lodge is surrounded by a moat and is known to have had a hall, chapel, chamber, kitchen, brewhouse and bakehouse during the C15, indicating its size and importance. It was demolished in the C17 after the construction of Higham Park Farmhouse, itself Grade II-listed (NHLE 1040338), to the northwest of the moated site. Evidence provided with the application states that the rampart (referring to the earthworks relating to the park pale), although respected by modern field boundaries, is now flattened, but its course can be seen in places as a light-coloured soilmark.
The park is not recommended for scheduling.

{19} Deer park (centred SP 990640). Further details of the history and boundaries of the park have now, been published.

{20} The medieval park pale as described at (1) could not be identified on historic aerial photographs and remote sensing data and was therefore not mapped as part of the Bedford Borough NMP project.

<1> Saxton, 1576, Map of Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire & Rutland, (unchecked) (Map). SNN42112.

<2> Speed J., 1610, Map of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Map). SNN559.

<3> BURT J., Notes in Card Index, (unchecked) (Notes). SNN44861.

<4> Eyre T. (Revised by Jefferys T.), 1779, Map of the County of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Map). SNN1852.

<5> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.194 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77326.

<7> Ordnance Survey, 1950, Ordnance Survey 1950s Mapping Series (SP96), SP96 (unchecked) (Map). SNN54851.

<9> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1975, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.69-70 (checked) (Series). SNN77379.

<10> Page W. (ed), 1930, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.279-80 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100370.

<11> BERESFORD M.W., 1971, History On The Ground, p.215-19 (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN60521.

<12> Ordnance Survey, 1960s, OS 6 Inch Map Series, (checked) (Map). SNN57405.

<13> Rowley R.T.; Fowler W.J. (Editors), 1974, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter (4), p.26 (unchecked) (Newsletter). SNN17341.

<14> STEANE J.M., 1975, The Medieval Parks of Northamptonshire, p.226-7 (unchecked) (Article). SNN37713.

<15> Ingham D., 2007, Westwood Biogas Plant, Higham Park, Rushden, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Field Evaluation, (unchecked) (Report). SNN105994.

<16> Kerr, W.J.B., 1923, Higham Ferrers and Its Ducal and Royal Castle and Park Part 3, (unchecked) (Book). SNN108295.

<17> Hall D.; Handing R., 1985, Rushden, A Duchy of Lancaster Village (Book). SNN105284.

<18> English Heritage, Designation Advice Report, Higham Park (medieval deer park), Newton Bromswold, Northamptonshire (Report). SNN113190.

<19> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p. 190 addendum (Series). SNN77382.

<20> 2018-2019, RCHME/EH/HE Aerial Photographers comment, Bedford Borough NMP project, S Crowther, August 2018 (Note). SNN111578.

<21> RCHME, Undated, RCHME Inventory: Northamptonshire I (North-East), 890491 (Archive). SNN113295.

Record last edited

Feb 7 2025 2:37PM