Monument record 8047 - Stoke Bruerne Park

Landscape park incorporating a medieval deer park. The deer park was enclosed in 1270 and incorporated into a landscape park for Stoke Park House during the 18th century. The northern third of the registered area is occupied by the triangular Stokepark Wood, whose boundaries perpetuate those of the medieval deer park. The central and southern parts of the park are mainly improved grassland.

{1} Stoke Bruern Park - owned by Robin Chancellor.

{4} Mrs Fordiffe (and 2nd edition 1791).

{5} Park Woods extend to 150 acres. Stoke Park - 400 acres to F.W.T. Vernon Wentworth. 1629 King granted park to Sir Francis Crane, kt who purchased Hartwell Park 1633, died 1635.

{6} Began Mortlake tapestry manu in James I, given estate in reign of Charles I. Sir Francis Crane gave to F Arundell his eldest sister's son. Seat at present inhabited by Rich Witlock, esq. 2nd husband of Isabella Wentworth whose 1st husband was Francis Arundell, eldest son of Francis Arundell, son of John Arundell.

{11} Deer park enclosed in 1270 and incorporated into a landscape park for Stoke Park House during the 18th century. The park contains wooded areas set out with paths to the southwest of the house. Formal gardens were laid out during the 17th century and have 19th century additions which include garden terraces constructed during the 1880s.

The northern third of the registered area is occupied by the triangular Stokepark Wood, whose boundaries perpetuate those of the medieval deer park. Some sections of the large, medieval park bank survive on the north-west, west, south and east sides of the wood, which is densely planted with deciduous and coniferous species. The central and southern parts of the park are mainly improved grassland, and there are isolated agricultural buildings in both halves. Areas of ridge and furrow however remain between the house and Stokepark Wood, associated with hollow-ways and other earthworks interpreted by RCHM€ (1982) as representing the site of a hamlet, possibly the place called Shaw noted in records of the C13 to C15. To the south of the house the ground falls away very gently, across the open park to the shelter belt c 1km in the distance, which in the winter signally fails to screen the busy A508. Beyond the ground rises, and the tower of Grafton Regis church, 2.5km to the south-east, forms an important eyecatcher on the skyline.

A licence to inclose his wood and make a park was obtained by Pagan de Chaworth in 1270. In 1594 the park was of 108 statute acres of land and 53 acres of coppice, but with no oaks. When granted to Francis Crane the park held deer. Tillemans’ view of 1721 shows an axial avenue running south-east from the house, and at least some of its trees survived until c 1900.

<1> Ordnance Survey, OS Landranger Series Map 151, Sheet No 151 (unchecked) (Map). SNN54551.

<2> Saxton, 1576, Map of Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire & Rutland, (unchecked) (Map). SNN42112.

<3> Speed J., 1610, Map of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Map). SNN559.

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

<5> Baker G., 1830, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.237 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77328.

<6> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Book). SNN100366.

<7> Anthony J., 1979, Gardens of Britain, (unchecked) (Series). SNN34164.

<8> CAMPBELL C., 1725, VITRUVIUS BRITANNICUS, (unchecked) (Illustration). SNN54749.

<9> 1953, Country Life (1953), 280-3 (Journal). SNN56429.

<10> Mowl T.; Hickman C., 2008, The Historic Gardens of England: Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Series). SNN106082.

<11> English Heritage, 1991, Register of Parks & Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England (1991, Northamptonshire), (checked) (Report). SNN1167.

<12> Stoke Park, Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Leaflet). SNN108804.

<13> Hall D., 2001, The Woodland Landscapes of Southern Northamptonshire, p.33-46 (unchecked) (Article). SNN102520.

<14> 1975, Northamptonshire Past and Present (5/3), p. 231 (Journal). SNN7308.

<15> Historic England, STOKE PARK, STOKE BRUERNE, BF061894 (Archive). SNN115082.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 7:49PM