Monument record 980/3 - Holdenby Manor House

Site of a manor house. An excavation undertaken 1899 showed it was a substantial building constructed from stone. Probably rebuilt by the Hatton family in the early 16th century.

{1} Crown in 1673 conferred manor on Marquis of Blanquefort created Baron of Holdenby. Duke of Marlborough, by purchase from Lord Feversham's representations is the present possessor of it and the whole lordship.

{2} By 1587 ponds had been constructed within the orchard and the old manor house site appears to have had some form of garden laid out over it. Earthwork plan.

{3} High resistance anomalies identified throughout Area 3 are thought to be caused by the presence of trees and their root systems, but other high resistance anomalies are caused by possible building material from the demolition of the Manor House. A small sub-circular high resistance anomaly was identified on the ground as a small circular mound and may represent the base of a structure such as a dovecote.

{4} The old Manor House of Holdenby stood on the small plateau immediately south of the church. In about 1575, along with most of the village, it was demolished to facilitate building of Holdenby Mansion (SP 66 NE 5).

Excavations of 1899 showed that it had been a substantial stone house with mullioned windows, roofed with Colley Weston slates, and probably rebuilt by the Hattons in the early 16th century.

<1> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Book). SNN100366.

<2> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1981, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.105-6 (checked) (Series). SNN77381.

<3> Harrison S.; Webb A., 2013, Land at Holdenby House, Northamptonshire: Geophysical Survey, p.4 (checked) (Report). SNN109329.

<4> Unknown, Undated, Northampton Topography (Note). SNN114128.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 7:58PM