Monument record 3043/2 - Fineshade Abbey (18th century mansion)

Built in around 1749 by William King, extended in the early 19th century and modernised in 1856. Largely demolished in 1956.

{1}Possible Roman features , Medieval castle and priory, Post medieval mansion evaluation by AG Johnston and B Dix.

{5}Documentary; post medieval mansion; in 1542 priory passed to sir Robert Kirkham who turned the priory buildings into his residence; totally destroyed 1749 and replaced by a large Georgian mansion; in 1720 an 'arch' of the original priory remained to the east of the house;(1)(2);

{6} Earthwork; post medieval mansion; Kirkham House;(?);plan:6inch fig48(1)+(2);

{7} The house that William King built was of two storeys and faced in ashlar; there was a moulded plinth and a first floor platband. The house was extended in the early 19th century by the addition of slightly projecting bays flanking the original building. In 1856 the house was further modernised, extended to both the north and south and a portico added against the west wall.

{8} In its final stage of life this building was acquired for use as offices of the Corby Development Corporation. It was largely demolished with three explosions in 1956 when only the southern kitchen and laundry bays were left standing; now only the laundry remains.

{9} Archaeological evaluation was carried out in 1988. Three of the five trenches were excavated in the area of the former house. Within this area the bedrock had been removed to 0.76m below modern ground level to accomodate a slate sub-floor beneath one of the rooms of the early 19th-century extension, together with part of a wall located towards the centre of the former house. This wall owed its survival to the presence of a cellar which was backfilled with rubble and other debris during demolition in 1956. The absence elsewhere of traces of walls and floors from their anticipated locations confirms the testimony of local reports regarding the total destruction of the former house.

{10} Resistivity survey on the plot of the proposed house tentatively identified the remains of walls of the former 18th-century mansion as well as a possible cellar, although the site was very disturbed;

{11} It was a relatively low building of seven bays. The corners and the break forward of three bays in the centre of both fronts were marked by strips of rusticated quoins. On the garden front the windows had Gibbs surrounds and the central doorway a pediment supported on rusticated Ionic columns.

{12}Geophysical survey; July 1992; Northamptonshire Archaeology Unit contracts; series of significant anomalies detected indicating presence of buildings; wall alignments identified; possibly relate to 18th century house rather than priory; also identified cellars of C18th house;

{14} Archaeological evaluation identified the remains of a post-medieval building.

{15} Excavation was undertaken in 2019 to the west of the surviving stable block prior to development of the site. The southern gable of the former mansion was identified; this was part of the 19th century extension known to have been added to the 18th-cetury house. An associated yard surface was identified to the south and beyond were the remains of a detached building, also dating to the 19th century, possibly a small stable. The structures and yard area found match those depicted on both the historic mapping and an aerial photograph of 1951 and that the linear structure, yard surface and south gable wall of the former Fineshade Abbey House are most likely early/late 19th century in date.

<1> Dix B., 1992, Recent Work in Northamptonshire Archaeology, P119 (Article). SNN104441.

<2> 1730, MISC. DOCUMENTS (Uncertain). SNN57447.

<3> 1632, MISC. DOCUMENTS (Uncertain). SNN57446.

<4> 1559, MISC. DOCUMENTS (Uncertain). SNN57445.

<5> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1975, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p. 38/site 3 (Series). SNN77379.

<6> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP99NE1 (Index). SNN443.

<7> R.C.H.M.E., 1984, An inventory of Architectural Monuments in North Northamptonshire, p. 61-2 (Notes). SNN110258.

<8> Johnston, G and Bellamy, B., 2015, From Hillfort to Mansion: Excavations at Fineshade Abbey, p. 179 (Report). SNN110575.

<9> Northamptonshire Archaeology Unit, 1988, Archaeological Evaluation at Fineshade Abbey, Northants., p. 2 (Report). SNN77397.

<10> Audouy, Masters, Sharman, 1992, An Archaeological Evaluation at Fineshade Abbey, Northants, p. 3-4 (Report). SNN77398.

<11> Heward J.; Taylor R., 1996, The Country Houses of Northamptonshire, p. 223-4 (Book). SNN41757.

<12> 1988, SUPPLEMENTARY FILE (Uncertain). SNN51815.

<13> 1993, SMR REPORT FORM (Note). SNN48727.

<14> Williams, S, 2018, Archaeological Evaluation: The Wash House, Fineshade Abbey, Fineshade, Northamptonshire, NN17 3BA (Report). SNN112580.

<15> Williams, S., 2019, Archaeological excavation: Fineshade Abbey, Fineshade, Northamptonshire, NN17 3BA (Report). SNN111704.

<16> Historic England, Undated, FINESHADE ABBEY, DUDDINGTON WITH FINESHADE, BF061870 (Archive). SNN116140.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 8:07PM