Monument record 4389 - Lamport Hall Gardens and Landscape Park

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Summary

Gardens, pleasure grounds and landscape park to Lamport Hall. The gardens are documented during the 1560s and in 1671-73 but most of the present layout dates from 1676-79, with alterations by Sir Charles Isham dating from 1846. The 19th century gardens include the Rockery, created in 1847, which was one of the earliest Alpine gardens in England. Gardens were also laid out in 1923. John Webb was commissioned to design the park by Mary Close during the 1820s. Replanting took place in 1929.

Map

Type and Period (11)

Full Description

{1} Whilst the Parks and Gardens Register states that the park was created in the early C19th, Thomas Eyre's map of the C18th clearly shows a small parkland, more or less occupying the area currently registered. An avenue of trees is also shown running southwards to the boundary of the parkland, aligned with the house.

{15} Formal and kitchen gardens situated in a landscape park to the southeast and southwest of Lamport Hall. The Hall and its gardens lie on the west side of a modest park bounded by an ironstone wall to the east, west and north. The park is pasture ground underlain with ridge and furrow, and contains scattered specimen trees. Some 400m south-east of the Hall is a sharply conical mound, slightly oval, 8m x 10m, and 3.8m high. Immediately to the east is a partially infilled rectangular pond. Mound and pond post-date the ridge and furrow and are probably landscape features associated with the park.
The gardens were originally laid out in from 1568 onwards and included a mount, walks and a bowling green. This layout was modified in 1678 and included the construction of the terrace walk, walled kitchen garden, and possibly the demolition of the mount. An enclosed garden to the southwest of the house may date to this modification, and is shown on a drawing of 1721. Modifications completed by 1761 involved the removal of the enclosed garden. Another garden post-dating this phase survives as earthworks. 19th century features include a rockery and a parterre of 1857. A rose garden was established in 1923. The park was commissioned in the 1820s by Mary Close, Lady Isham, from the landscape designer John Webb (d 1828). It incorporated a walnut avenue of 1678 running south-east from the park gates at the corner of the garden, the remnants of which were replaced in 1929 by a new horse chestnut avenue.

{23} SP 759744. Remains lie to the SE and SW of Lamport Hall (SP 77 SE 4). Originated by John Isham 1568 onwards. His design included a mount, walks and bowling green. This layout modified extensively circa 1678 by Thomas Isham including the construction of the existing terrace walk and walled kitchen garden, and possibly demolition of the mount. An enclosed garden southwest of the house may date to this modification, and is shown on a drawing of 1721 in the BM. Later modifications, complete by 1761 removed the enclosed garden and replaced it with a carriageway set in parkland shown on a drawing of 1761 at the Hall. The carriageway was replaced by another garden, remains of which survive as low earthworks. After 1861 the main entrance of the Hall was moved and a balustraded parterre was built in this area.

{27} The boundaries of the parkland area also clearly marked on the 1813-16 OS surveyors' drawings, although no appearing to lay as far south as suggested in ref {1}. Avenues of trees are shown radiating eastwards, probably including the early walnut avenue mentioned in ref {15}. It seems possible then that the work comissioned in the 1820s was part of improvement work rather than parkland creation.

{29} Terraces shown on the south-west side of the house.

{30} The terraces were replaced by a circular carriage drive in open parkland in C18th. This was removed at an unknown date.

{31} Earthworks of the late C16th or early C17th terraces and ha ha for the gardens of Lamport Hall. Site visit 12/06/1986. Incorporated as part of the present garden. In good condition. Two rectilinear terraces are probably part of the C18th gardens.


<1> Eyre T. (Revised by Jefferys T.), 1779, Map of the County of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Map). SNN1852.

<2> BS ADD MAN 32.467 F149, (unchecked) (Document). SNN54362.

<3> 1859, The Cottage Gardener (23), p.84-6 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN54789.

<4> HORT J., 1872, The Cottage Gardener (27), p.501-3 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN56929.

<5> 1898, Country Life (1898), p.518-20 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN107226.

<6> 1921, Country Life (1921), p.672-79 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN54790.

<7> 1952, Country Life (1952), p.932-35 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN56933.

<8> 1960, Country Life (1960), p.1104-07 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN28488.

<9> RCHME, Undated, RCHME Inventory: Northamptonshire II (Central), 889837 (Archive). SNN112900.

<10> Lamport Hall: Information Sheet 1, (unchecked) (Draft). SNN47919.

<11> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.110 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77326.

<12> Wetton, 1849, Guidebook to Northampton and its Vicinity, p.102 (unchecked) (Book). SNN1032.

<13> 1897, Gardener's Chronicle, p.209-10+217+219+395 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN56930.

<14> Anthony J., 1979, Gardens of Britain, p.107-10 (unchecked) (Series). SNN34164.

<15> English Heritage, 1991, Register of Parks & Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England (1991, Northamptonshire), (checked) (Report). SNN1167.

<16> Richardson, T. (Ed.), 2000, The Garden Book, (unchecked) (Book). SNN101459.

<17> Mowl T.; Hickman C., 2008, The Historic Gardens of England: Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Series). SNN106082.

<18> 1952, Country Life (1952), p.1106-09 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN106710.

<19> 1960, Country Life (1960), p.1164-67 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN106711.

<20> Salzman L.F.(ed), 1937, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.195-99 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100371.

<21> Marlow N. (Translator), 1971, The Diary of Thomas Isham of Lamport (1658-81), kept 1671-73, (unchecked) (Diary). SNN106712.

<22> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.284-9 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<23> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1981, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.117 fig 91 (unchecked) (Series). SNN77381.

<24> Lamport Hall Trust, 1985, Lamport Hall Past and Present, (unchecked) (Guide). SNN106713.

<25> Bailey B.A., 1996, Northamptonshire in the Early Eighteenth Century: The Drawings of Peter Tillemans & Others, p.107 (unchecked) (Series). SNN41766.

<26> Heward J.; Taylor R., 1996, The Country Houses of Northamptonshire, p.256-63 (unchecked) (Book). SNN41757.

<27> Ordnance Survey, 1811-9, First Edition Ordnance Survey Surveyors Drawings, Sheet 253 (Map). SNN104902.

<28> Undated, Externally held archive reference, British Museum. Add MS, 32, 467, f 149 (Archive). SNN113573.

<29> 1721, ILLUSTRATION, (unchecked) (Illustration). SNN47920.

<30> 1761, Untitled Source, Engraving of 1761 (Engraving). SNN47921.

<31> FOARD G.R., 1986, ORAL REPORT TO SMR, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN50986.

Sources/Archives (31)

  • <1> Map: Eyre T. (Revised by Jefferys T.). 1779. Map of the County of Northamptonshire. NRO Map 1119. (unchecked).
  • <2> Document: BS ADD MAN 32.467 F149. BS ADD MAN 32.467 F149. (unchecked).
  • <3> Journal: 1859. The Cottage Gardener (23). The Cottage Gardener. 23. p.84-6 (unchecked).
  • <4> Journal: HORT J.. 1872. The Cottage Gardener (27). The Cottage Gardener. 27. p.501-3 (unchecked).
  • <5> Journal: 1898. Country Life (1898). Country Life. 3 (30th April). Country Life. p.518-20 (unchecked).
  • <6> Journal: 1921. Country Life (1921). Country Life. 4th June. Country Life. p.672-79 (unchecked).
  • <7> Journal: 1952. Country Life (1952). Country Life. 112 (26th September). Country Life. p.932-35 (unchecked).
  • <8> Journal: 1960. Country Life (1960). Country Life. 10th November. Country Life. p.1104-07 (unchecked).
  • <9> Archive: RCHME. Undated. RCHME Inventory: Northamptonshire II (Central). Historic England Archive. 889837.
  • <10> Draft: Lamport Hall: Information Sheet 1. 1. (unchecked).
  • <11> Book: Bridges J.. 1791. The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire. 2. p.110 (unchecked).
  • <12> Book: Wetton. 1849. Guidebook to Northampton and its Vicinity. p.102 (unchecked).
  • <13> Journal: 1897. Gardener's Chronicle. Gardener's Chronicle. p.209-10+217+219+395 (unchecked).
  • <14> Series: Anthony J.. 1979. Gardens of Britain. 6. Batsford. p.107-10 (unchecked).
  • <15> Report: English Heritage. 1991. Register of Parks & Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England (1991, Northamptonshire). Northamptonshire. English Heritage. (checked).
  • <16> Book: Richardson, T. (Ed.). 2000. The Garden Book. Phaidon. (unchecked).
  • <17> Series: Mowl T.; Hickman C.. 2008. The Historic Gardens of England: Northamptonshire. The Historic Gardens of England. Northamptonshire. Tempus. (unchecked).
  • <18> Journal: 1952. Country Life (1952). Country Life. 112 (10th October). p.1106-09 (unchecked).
  • <19> Journal: 1960. Country Life (1960). Country Life. 128 (17th November). p.1164-67 (unchecked).
  • <20> Series: Salzman L.F.(ed). 1937. The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire. 4. University of London. p.195-99 (unchecked).
  • <21> Diary: Marlow N. (Translator). 1971. The Diary of Thomas Isham of Lamport (1658-81), kept 1671-73. (unchecked).
  • <22> Series: Pevsner N.; Cherry B.. 1973. The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire. The Buildings of England. Northamptonshire. Penguin Books. p.284-9 (unchecked).
  • <23> Series: Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England. 1981. An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton. 3. HMSO. p.117 fig 91 (unchecked).
  • <24> Guide: Lamport Hall Trust. 1985. Lamport Hall Past and Present. (unchecked).
  • <25> Series: Bailey B.A.. 1996. Northamptonshire in the Early Eighteenth Century: The Drawings of Peter Tillemans & Others. Northamptonshire Record Society. 39. Northants.Record Society. p.107 (unchecked).
  • <26> Book: Heward J.; Taylor R.. 1996. The Country Houses of Northamptonshire. R.C.H.M.E.. p.256-63 (unchecked).
  • <27> Map: Ordnance Survey. 1811-9. First Edition Ordnance Survey Surveyors Drawings. 2 Inches to 1 Mile. Ordnance Survey. Sheet 253.
  • <28> Archive: Undated. Externally held archive reference. Historic England Archive. British Museum. Add MS, 32, 467, f 149.
  • <29> Illustration: 1721. ILLUSTRATION. BM ADD.MS.32;467;F.149. (unchecked).
  • <30> Engraving: 1761. Engraving of 1761.
  • <31> Uncertain: FOARD G.R.. 1986. ORAL REPORT TO SMR. (unchecked).

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (5)

Related Events/Activities (0)

Location

Grid reference Centred SP 76130 74269 (1142m by 1198m) Approximate
Civil Parish LAMPORT, West Northamptonshire (formerly Daventry District)

Protected Status/Designation

Other Statuses/References

  • NRHE HOB UID: 343760

Record last edited

May 9 2025 3:41PM

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