Monument record 1894 - Delapre Park

Landscape park and formal gardens associated with Delapre Abbey. The formal, walled gardens are located to the east of the house and 19th century designed gardens further east. There is open parkland to the south and west of the abbey, separated from south lawn by a ha ha.

{2} The Hon Edward Bouverie. Second edition of 1791 shows enclosed park.

{3} Now the seat of Bartholomew Tate, Esq. Built upon site of abbey of St mary de Pratis (Cluniac nuns). Barth Tate held lands - in family since. Marshal of Calice - father Lord Mayor of London, Mercer.

{4} House came to Tate after Dissolution.

{8} Two engravings in Evans and Brittan, one dated 1831.

{12} West of Delapre Abbey at SP757590 and SP758589. The first location showed buried wall footings and platforms which were described in a note dated 23/12/2007. The second location comprises two aqueducts, one with a cistern, either side of a sunken area. The remains were first looked at in 1999, but their explanation was unresolved.

{13} Archaeological watching brief carried out during groundworks connected with a project to repair and reinstate the historic water gardens at Delapre Abbey, Northampton. The work revealed a modern stone-lined culvert in the deeper pump pit. However, the majority of trenching was only 0.6m deep and within disturbed ground, so no earlier features or finds were located.

{18} The central focus of the formal gardens is the walled garden, formerly the nunnery’s graveyard. It became the formal garden for the house in 16th century, and converted to a kitchen garden in 19th century as fashions changed and the eastern informal garden was constructed. The recently restored greenhouses date from the same period. Park House/Abbey Cottage dates probably from the seventeenth or eighteenth century. It was altered in the nineteenth century. The thatched game larder located in the kitchen garden is also Grade II listed. Several modern sculptures have been located in the gardens. The Woman with Fish sculpture is Grade II listed. It was shown at the second Battersea Park Sculpture Exhibition in 1951 by Frank Dobson then bought to Northampton. It was moved to its current setting in 1978. 2 brick reliefs of a couple embracing and woman with three cats are post war.
To the east of the walled garden is a nineteenth century garden. This is laid out in a picturesque style, with large trees, shrubberies and a complex of water features that are no longer working. To the north and east of this garden is Charterwood, which is outside the boundaries of the proposed conservation area. According to the First Edition Ordnance Survey map of the area, an ice house was located by the path marking the boundary of the picturesque garden. This is not marked on later maps and is not present on the property.
To the south and west of the Abbey is open parkland. To the south of the abbey is a lawn, separated by a ha-ha from the rest of the park. On the western side of the park is the driveway leading from London Road to the Abbey, which is lined with mature trees and traditionally styled modern fencing. Beyond the surviving parkland is the golf course. Through the creation of the course in the 1970s the topography and planting of area have been greatly altered. Much of the historic value of the landscape has now been lost and consequently is not of a high enough standard to be included in a conservation area. Further away is the Eleanor Cross to the south west, and the sunken lane between Hardingstone and the town centre.

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1950, Ordnance Survey 1950s Mapping Series (SP75), (unchecked) (Map). SNN56166.

<2> Eyre T. (Revised by Jefferys T.), 1779, Map of the County of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Map). SNN1852.

<3> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.365 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77325.

<4> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<5> Evans J.; Britton J., 1810, The Beauties of England and Wales (Northamptonshire), (unchecked) (Book). SNN1351.

<6> Neale J.P., 1820, Views of Seats (1), (unchecked) (Series). SNN54894.

<7> 1960, Country Life (1960), p.218-21 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN54923.

<8> EVANS J.; BRITTON J., 1831, The Beauties of England & Wales, p.105 (unchecked) (Engraving). SNN47697.

<9> Mowl T.; Hickman C., 2008, The Historic Gardens of England: Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Series). SNN106082.

<10> Wake J.; Pantin W.A., 1958, Delapre Abbey, Its History and Architecture, p.225-241 (unchecked) (Article). SNN597.

<11> Holmes M.; Parry S., 1997, Land at Hunsbury Hillfort and Delapre Park, Northampton: Archaeological Watching Brief, (unchecked) (Report). SNN74073.

<12> Welsh T.C., 2007, Delapre Park, Aqueducts, Garden Features and Remains, (unchecked) (Unpublished Report). SNN106413.

<13> Bassir A., 2011, Archaeological Watching Brief in Delapre Gardens, Delapre Abbey, Northampton August 2011 (Report). SNN108347.

<14> Horne B. (Editor), 2012, South Midlands Archaeology (42), 42/34 (Journal). SNN108346.

<15> Chapman P. (Editor), 2012, Archaeology in Northamptonshire, 2011, p.216 (Chapter). SNN108375.

<16> Cadman, G., 2011, Delapre Park Gardens (Photographic prints (COL)). SNN108473.

<17> Yates, A.; Butler, A.; Dix, B. & Jones, C., 2009, Delapre Abbey, Northampton: Geophysical, topographic and walkover surveys and archaeological test pitting April - May 2009 (Report). SNN107990.

<18> Planning Policy & Conservation Section, Northampton Borough Council, 2007, Delapre Park: Conservation Area Assessment and Management Plan (Report). SNN117105.

Record last edited

Jun 11 2026 3:51PM