Monument record 1156/2/32 - Ecton Hall Park

The formal gardens around the hall are first documented in the late 17th century. A map of 1703 depicts avenues to the north and south of the hall as well as simple formal gardens. A subsequent map dating to the 1730s depicts more elaborate gardens typical of the early 18th century.

{4} Attached to the house are flower gardens, plantations and grounds otherwise difersified by ornament, and laid out in a style worthy of the taste of Capability Brown.

{6}Photo. Of Ecton Hall/park?,

{3}420 inhabitants- Lordship is in general open field, very little enclosure or wood. George Catesby inherited in 1592. Thomas Catesby died 1699 holding the manor……Mr Ralph Freeman (of Aspden, Herts) considerably improved his estate and seat here, sold them in 1712 to Thomas Isted of the Middle Temple. Whole manor with 3/4 of lordship now held by Mr Isted.

{7} Far more extensive in later 18th & 19th century - see Foard in NP&P.

{15} Ecton estate has an excellent series of maps and drawings which chart the evolution of the country house, its gardens and landscape park from 1703 to the end of the C19th.
Ecton has a more wooded aspect than most parishes in the Nene valley, a character which it owes to emparking and landscaping around a country house which was, according to Pevsner, “the foremost example of early Gothic Revival in the county”.

<1> , 1950, Ordnance Survey 2.5 Inch Series, SP86 (Map). SNN60100.

<3> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.141 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77326.

<4> Cole J., 1825, The History and Antiquities of Ecton, (unchecked) (Book). SNN47349.

<5> 1954, Country Life (1954), 600 (Journal). SNN54948.

<6> Gotch J.A., 1939, Squires' Homes and Other Old Buildings of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Book). SNN39616.

<7> Foard G., Northamptonshire Past and Present (Ecton Hall Park Article), (unchecked) (Journal). SNN105989.

<8> Mowl T.; Hickman C., 2008, The Historic Gardens of England: Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Series). SNN106082.

<9> Edgeworth, M., 2002, Earls Barton Quarry, Northamptonshire, Western Extension: Archaeological Desk-based Assessment, p.15-16 (checked) (Report). SNN101609.

<10> 1703, Ecton Parish Survey (NRO Map 2115), (unchecked) (Map). SNN22606.

<11> Fuller J., 1740 (circa), Bird's Eye View of Ecton Hall and Gardens (NRO Map 2162), (unchecked) (Plan). SNN46086.

<12> 1759, Ecton Inclosure Award (NRO Map 2121), (unchecked) (Map). SNN22595.

<13> Ecton (Sotheby Collection), (unchecked) (Archive). SNN108762.

<14> Hohnholz J., 1964, Ecton Hall: Die Verdrangung der agrarisch genutzten Flur und deren Umgestaltung in eine Parklandschaft, p.52-57 (unchecked) (Article). SNN76729.

<15> Foard G., 1993, Ecton: Its Lost Village and Landscape Park, p.335 (checked) (Article). SNN54811.

<16> 1770 (circa), Plan of Part of The Estate of Ambrose Isted in Ecton (NRO Map 2120), (unchecked) (Map). SNN22532.

<17> 1781, Map of Ecton (NRO Map 2119), (unchecked) (Map). SNN54810.

Record last edited

May 30 2024 3:57PM