Monument record 4333 - Medieval/Post Medieval Water Management System, north-east of Dale Farm

Pond and leat system; date and purpose unknown

{1} Two ponds of uncertain date, and covering an area of 1.8ha and 0.24ha respectively. They are located in a steep-sided valley. The upper pond "Dale Pond", is now reduced to a small area of water; on the 1834 O.S. map it covered 3ha. Its dam is 2m high and has now been cut through.

{2} Fieldname: Dale Pond.

{5} Ponds, lie S.W. of the village, N. and E. of Dale Farm, in a steep-sided valley cut into Upper Lias Clay between 105 m. and 120 m. above OD. Nothing is known of the date and function of either pond, though presumably the larger one to the north-west is earlier than the smaller one.

The upper pond, known as Dale Pond, is now reduced to a small area of water but even in recent times it was much larger and in the early 19th century {2} it covered 3 hectares and extended for some 300 m. along the valley. The water was held back by a massive dam some 2 m high which now has a later cut through its centre. When the lake was full the water flowed across the N.E. end of the dam and ran along an artificial raised leat cut into the valley side. This leat, which still survives, curves S. and S.W. as a channel 3 m. deep and now returns N.W. to meet the existing stream. However in earlier times it flowed S.E. and entered the smaller pond. This is a long rectangular depression, cut into the hillside to a depth of 1.5 m. and bounded on the S.W. and S.E. by a large bank up to 2.5 m. high. A large gap in the centre of the S.W. side appears to be secondary but as there is no other outlet it may be in the same position as an original one {6}.

The upper pond, known as Dale Pond, is now reduced to a small area of water but even in recent times it was much larger and in the early C19th it covered 3ha and extended for some 300m along the valley. The water was held back by a massive dam some 2m high which now has a later cut through its centre. When the lake was full the water flowed across the north-east end of the dam and ran along an artificial raised leat cut into the valley side.

<1> 1993, Dale Pond, Maidwell (SMR Report Form). SNN48760.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1834, First Edition Ordnance Survey 1 Inch Map Series (Sheet 52) (Map). SNN281.

<3> Taylor P., 1992, Fishponds Report 1992 (Report). SNN1339.

<4> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs, NCCAP:SP7476/002-3 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN104822.

<5> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1981, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p. 136-7 (Series). SNN77381.

<6> Royal Air Force, 1940s, RAF Vertical Aerial Photographs, RAF VAP 106G/UK/636, 4189–90 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN105266.

<7> RCHME, Undated, RCHME Inventory: Northamptonshire II (Central), 889713 (Archive). SNN112900.

Record last edited

Feb 7 2025 2:58PM