Information for record number MWA2097:
Compton Wynyates Park

Summary Compton Wynyates Park, Parkland originating as a Post Medieval deer park was converted to a formal garden during the Imperial period. It was situated in the area to the east of Compton Wynyates. Recommended for Register by Lovie.
What Is It?  
Type: Deer Park, Formal Garden
Period: Post-medieval (1540 AD - 1750 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Compton Wynyates
District: Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 33 41
(Data represented on this map shows the current selected record as a single point, this is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an accurate or complete representation of archaeological sites or features)
Level of Protection National - Old SMR PrefRef (Grade: )
Sites & Monuments Record
Description

  
Source Number  

1 Sir William Compton began the park in about 1513, when he had a licence to impark certain grounds enclosed at the time and also 2000 acres more land and wood in Compton Superior and Compton Inferior. This was probably disparked about the year 1760.
2 The enclosure destroyed two homesteads and put three ploughs out of use. It was not until 1519 that William Compton obtained the royal licence to impark his land in Compton.
3 parkland including gardens with terraces, moat, fountain, dovecote, canal/ pond; site of 19th century topiary garden. Capability Brown partially surveyed the grounds in the 1750s, but plans were probably not executed. Recommended for inclusion on Register.
4 Compton Wynyates is noted for the beauty of the Post Medieval house, but the Comptons had held the manor since the 13th century. The surrounding grounds have evolved over a long period. It has been suggested that vineyards were a feature of the Medieval landscape, but no sites are known. In 1513, a park of 100 acres was enclosed and in 1519 a licence to enclose about 2000 acres was granted. Capability Brown was commissioned in the 1760s to prepare plans, but these appear not to have been carried out due to the financial difficulties of the then landowner, the 8th Earl of Northampton. For much of the rest of the 18th century and part of the early 19th century the estate was exploited for timber and produce, though the Earl's agent protected it to some extent. From the mid 19th century onwards, a series of formal terrace gardens was laid out, surviving features of which include two fountain pools below the south front, and elements of a courtyard garden in the quadrangle. In 1895 the moat garden and a topiary garden known as the Best garden were laid out. The topiary garden (photograph included) has been replaced by a rose garden containing old varieties, which is itself of some interest.
5 The OS 1:10560 1886 Sht Warks 54NE shows some features of the formal gardens before 1895.
6 The OS 1:10560 1923 Sht Warks 54NE shows shaded parkland and shows the position of the topiary garden, with its central pond.
7 park shown on Greenwood's map of 1822.
 
Sources
Source No: 1
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Some accounts of English deer parks
Author/originator: Shirley E
Date: 1867
Page Number: 153-161
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Victoria County History, vol 5, Warwickshire
Author/originator: Salzman L F (ed)
Date: 1965
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 5
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Warwickshire Register Review Data Tables (Stratford on Avon)
Author/originator: Lovie, Jonathan
Date: 1997
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Warwickshire Register Review Report & Recommendations
Author/originator: Lovie, Jonathan
Date: 1997
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 5
Source Type: Map
Title: 54NE 1:10560 1886
Author/originator: Ordnance Survey
Date: 1886
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 54NE
   
Source No: 6
Source Type: Map
Title: 54NE 1:10560 1923
Author/originator: Ordnance Survey
Date: 1923
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 54NE
   
Source No: 7
Source Type: Map
Title: Greenwood's Map of the County of Warwick 1822
Author/originator: Greenwood C & J
Date: 1822
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Images:  
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Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
period Medieval 1066 AD to 1539 AD (the 11th century AD to the 16th century AD)

The medieval period comes after the Saxon period and before the post medieval period.

The Medieval period begins in 1066 AD.
This was the year that the Normans, led by William the Conqueror (1066 – 1087), invaded England and defeated Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings in East Sussex.
The Medieval period includes the first half of the Tudor period (1485 – 1603 AD), when the Tudor family reigned in England and eventually in Scotland too.

The end of the Medieval period is marked by Henry VIII’s (1509 – 1547) order for the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the years running up to 1539 AD. The whole of this period is sometimes called the Middle Ages.
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period Post Medieval About 1540 AD to 1750 AD (the 16th century AD to the 18th century AD)

The Post Medieval period comes after the medieval period and before the Imperial period.

This period covers the second half of the reign of the Tudors (1485 – 1603), the reign of the Stuarts (1603 – 1702) and the beginning of the reign of the Hannoverians (1714 – 1836).
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period Imperial 1751 AD to 1914 AD (end of the 18th century AD to the beginning of the 20th century AD)

This period comes after the Post Medieval period and before the modern period and starts with beginning of the Industrial Revolution in 1750. It includes the second part of the Hannoverian period (1714 – 1836) and the Victorian period (1837 – 1901). The Imperial period ends with the start of the First World War in 1914.
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monument DOVECOTE * A building, or part of a building, used to house doves and pigeons, usually placed at a height above the ground, with openings and provision inside for roosting and breeding. back
monument POOL * A small body of water, either natural or artificial. back
monument ROSE GARDEN * A garden, often geometrical in layout, or area for the cultivation of roses. back
monument HOUSE * A building for human habitation, especially a dwelling place. Use more specific type where known. back
monument SITE * Unclassifiable site with minimal information. Specify site type wherever possible. back
monument FOUNTAIN * An artificial aperture from which water springs. The water supply usually came from a lake or reservoir higher up in order to ensure the necessary flow and pressure. More recently fountains have been powered by pumps. back
monument TOPIARY GARDEN * A garden containing trees or shrubs pruned and trained into various geometric, zoomorphic or fantastic shapes. back
monument DEER PARK * A large park for keeping deer. In medieval times the prime purpose was for hunting. back
monument CANAL * An artificial navigable waterway used for the transportation of goods. Nowadays also used for recreational purposes. back
monument FORMAL GARDEN * A garden of regular, linear or geometrical design, often associated with the traditional Italian, French and Dutch styles. back
monument PARK * An enclosed piece of land, generally large in area, used for hunting, the cultivation of trees, for grazing sheep and cattle or visual enjoyment. Use more specific type where known. back
monument FEATURE * Areas of indeterminate function. back
monument POND * A body of still water often artificially formed for a specific purpose. Use specifc type where known. back
monument MOAT * A wide ditch surrounding a building, usually filled with water. Use for moated sites, not defensive moats. Use with relevant site type where known, eg. MANOR HOUSE, GARDEN, etc. back
monument VINEYARD * An area of land and associated buildings where vines are cultivated. The grapes produced are then used to make wine. back
monument COURTYARD * An uncovered area, surrounded or partially surrounded by buildings. back
monument ENCLOSURE * An area of land enclosed by a boundary ditch, bank, wall, palisade or other similar barrier. Use specific type where known. back
monument MANOR * An area of land consisting of the lord's demesne and of lands from whose holders he may exact certain fees, etc. back
monument WOOD * A tract of land with trees, sometimes acting as a boundary or barrier, usually smaller and less wild than a forest. back
monument GARDEN * An enclosed piece of ground devoted to the cultivation of flowers, fruit or vegetables and/or recreational purposes. Use more specific type where known. back
monument HOMESTEAD * A small settlement, usually consisting of one dwelling with ancillary buildings. back
monument TERRACE * A row of houses attached to and adjoining one another and planned and built as one unit. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record