Monument record 2882/2 - Collyweston Manor

The visible remains of Collyweston House include earthworks, garden terraces, two fishponds and park boundary banks. Collyweston House and its associated park were built 1412-1441. The house was enlarged or rebuilt in the late 15th century and the park was enclosed. In 1720 the house was demolished and the park was disparked. Between 1780 and 1782 the building materials were removed from the site. No structural remains of Collyweston House have survived. The only remains are earthworks, including terraces, probably for gardens, and two fishponds fed by natural springs with earth banks up to 3.5m high. The boundaries of the park also survive as fragmentary low banks. Collyweston was probably built by Sir William Porter and it became a royal palace, where Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII, stayed.

{2} The manor was sold soon after 1412 to Sir William Porter who is traditionally said to have been lowly born, but to have later acquired wealth. He is also thought to have begun the building of Collyweston House. After his death the house and land was sold in 1441 to Ralph Lord Cromwell, who appears to have enlarged or rebuilt the house. By the end of the C15th the house had passed into the hands of The Crown. By this time its park was already in existence; it was probably enclosed either by Porter or by Cromwell. The Crown's first tenant, Margaret Countess of Richmond, was granted the manor in 1486. She spent considerable time there and is said to have improved both house and grounds. After her death in 1509 it was used by the Duke of Richmond, Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. Charles I granted the manor to Patrick Mawle who later sold it to Sir Robert Heath. In 1631 Heath obtained permission to enclose a new park from the woodlands because the old park was too small and had no covert. This new park, if it was ever made, may have been centred on Collyweston Great Wood.

{3} The manor was sold soon after 1412 to Sir William Porter who began the building of Collyweston House. By the end of the C15th the house had passed into the hands of the Crown. By 1720 the house had been pulled down and the park disparked.

{5} The Castle at Collyweston was probably built by Sir William Porter during the reign of Henry V and Henry VI [1413-1461]. The building later became a royal palace being the residence of Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII. About 1741 the structure was described as ruinous but comprising a great hall, tower, dungeon and kitchen.

{6} Details of the early history of the manorial holding. Sir Edward Boteler died in 1412 and Sir John Trussell sold the manor a few years later to Sir William Porter. He is thought to have begun the house at Collyweston, continued by his more illustrious successors. In about 1441 the manor was sold to Humphrey Earl of Strafford, Ralph Lord Cromwell and many others.Ralph Lord Cromwell lived and died at Collyweston and did much towards the building of the beautiful house finished by Margaret Duchess of Richmond. She frequently resided at Collyweston and also did much for the improvement of the house and grounds. The manor passed to Anne Boleyn just before her execution, but in the latter part of his reign Henry VIII visited Collyweston several times, holding privy council there in 1541. Elizabeth also held privy council there in 1566.

{7} Collyweston house built 1412-1441. Enlarged or rebuilt late fifteenth century. Adjacent park enclosed during fifteenth century. 1720 house pulled down and park disparked. Materials removed 1780-82. House site enclosed by seventeenth or eighteenth century stone wall: no other structural remains. Earthworks include terraces, probably for gardens, and two fishponds fed by natural springs with earth banks up to 3.5m high. Park boundaries survive as fragmentary low banks.

{9} No structural remains were noted. During field investigation. The fishponds have been surveyed.

{10} No change.

<1> OS 6 INCH MAP, (unchecked) (Map). SNN45750.

<2> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1975, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.30-31 Site 8 (checked) (Series). SNN77379.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SK90SE 9 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<4> 1782, Earl of Exeter's Day Books, (unchecked) (Diary). SNN48059.

<5> 1906, Associated Architectural Societies Reports, p.569-74 (unchecked) (Series). SNN35152.

<6> Serjeantson R.M.; Ryland W. (Editors), 1906, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.550-53 (part checked) (Series). SNN100369.

<7> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1984, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.30-34 Site 2 (unchecked) (Series). SNN77384.

<8> Weston, P., 2006, Park Farm, Collyweston, Northamptonshire: An Archaeological Field Evaluation (Report). SNN108449.

<9> Seaman, B H, 1961, Field investigators comments, F1 BHS 05-DEC-61 (Notes). SNN112887.

<10> Baird, J, 1969, Field Investigators Comments, F2 JB 10-JAN-69 (Note). SNN111452.

<11> 1842, Collyweston Tithe Map (Map). SNN113638.

<12> Brown R.A.; Colvin H.M.; Taylor, 1982, The History of The Kings' Works (Vol.IV), p. 67-8 (Series). SNN60132.

<13> RCHME, Undated, RCHME Inventory: Northamptonshire I (North-East), 890526; 890541 (Archive). SNN113295.

<14> Williams, S, Programme of Archaeological Observation, Investigation, Analysis and Publication of Works: 4 Hall Yard, Collyweston, Stamford, Northamptonshire, PE9 3PZ (Report). SNN115058.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 8:06PM