Monument record 2133 - Medieval fishponds, north of Roe Farm

Two fishponds. Roughly rectangular earthworks enclosed by banks. Probably medieval in origin.

{2} Fishponds (SP 83846115; Fig. 28), lie just under 1 km E of Cogenhoe church, on alluvium at 48 m above OD. They consist of two roughly rectangular ponds cut into almost flat ground to a depth of 0.75 m. and surrounded by a large bank, up to 0.25 m. high at the S. end but rising to just over 1 m. high at the N. The division bank between the two ponds is only 0.25 m. high. The W. side has been re-used for an ironstone tramway, and is part of a complex series of cuttings, embankments and loading bays connected with the railway to the N. The tramway has damaged the sides of the ponds and obscured any original leet from the adjacent stream. On the E. both ponds have a gap in their sides. The northernmost has a slight channel extending E. and S.E. from it which may have been an outlet leet. The ponds are likely to be medieval in origin, and certainly existed in 1630 as they are marked on a map of that date and called Fish Pooles. The adjacent furlong to the N. was known as Fish Poole Furlong (Map in NRO; air photographs in NMR, and FSL 6565, 1907–9).

{4} Earthworks recognisable on aerial photographs; possibly medieval or post medieval fishponds, rectangular in plan. They existed in 1630 as 'fish pooles'. Their depth is up to 0.75m with a bank of up to 0.25m high at the south end and about 1.0m high to the north. The earthworks are confused on the west side by an ironstone railway embankment which obscures any inlet channel. There are gaps in both ponds on the east side, with a possible outlet leat from the north pond.

{5} (SP838611) Banked enclosures seen on air photographs.

{6} Two cojoined fishponds; the fill would originally have been from a fast running stream to the west, but in this area the perimeter bank has been occupied by a railway (now disused) and the point of entry cannot be traced. Published survey (25' 1967) correct. Situated at SP8384061158

<1> 1630, Map of Cogenhoe, (unchecked) (Map). SNN22696.

<2> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p. 21/Site 12 (Series). SNN77380.

<3> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs, NCCAP:SP8361/013-14 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN104822.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP86SW18 (Index). SNN443.

<5> Aerial Photograph, OS APs 67325 620-1 21.8.67 (Photographs). SNN112974.

<6> Colquhoun, FD, 1970, Field Investigator's Comments, F1 FDC 02-DEC-70 (Notes). SNN111540.

<7> 1630, Map of Cogenhoe (Map). SNN22696.

<8> Aerial Photograph, AP (FSL 6565, 1907-9) (Photographs). SNN112974.

Record last edited

Jan 31 2025 3:47PM