Information for record number MWA2652:
Baddesley Clinton Hall Park, Baddesley Clinton

Summary The park at Baddesley Clinton Hall comprises an 18th century walled garden with medieval fishponds and 19th century pleasure grounds, and 16th and 19th century parkland, surrounding a moated medieval manor house.
What Is It?  
Type: Landscape Park, Walled Garden, Kitchen Garden, Drive, Formal Garden, Sundial, Pool
Period: Modern - Modern (1600 AD - 2050 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Baddesley Clinton
District: Warwick, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 20 71
(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: )
Registered Park or Garden (Grade: II)
Sites & Monuments Record
Description

 
Source Number  

3
6 Baddesley Clinton Hall 33 heactre site comprises 4 heactres of gardens, pleasure grounds and ponds, and 29 heactres of parkland. It is approached from the minor road which forms the northern site boundary, the tarmac and gravel drive ascends south-south-east between timber paling for 30m to reach a late 19th century single-storey lodge which stands to the west of the drive. The lodge is constructed in stone with Tudor-gothic mullioned windows below half-timbered gables ornamented with coloured shields, and was constructed for Edward Dering circa 1890. Immediately south of the lodge the drive passes through a timber five-bar gate and enters an avenue of limes which extends 190m south-south-east through the park. Turning south-east the drive continues for 260m along the north-east boundary of the park before turning sharply south adjacent to a copse known as Badger's Dell, in which is located the medieval quarry from which stone for the house was dug. The drive extends 350m south-south-west through the park to reach a pair of 19th century ornamental timber gates supported on timber posts with ogee finials and set in a timber pale fence which encloses the pleasure grounds around the house. Some 20m north of this gateway an 18th century brick-lined carriage wash lies to the west of the drive. The drive turns south-west and passes between lawns to reach the gravelled forecourt which lies to the north-east of the house. To the south-east of the forecourt a further service drive leads to the 18th century stable and farmyard which replaced late medieval stone barns and farm buildings 50m north-east of the house. These buildings were destroyed by fire, and their earthwork remains are visible in the lawns north of the drive. The forecourt is enclosed to the north-east by a 19th century low, coursed stone wall which flanks a pair of late 19th century rusticated gate piers surmounted by acorn finials. The present walls and gate piers replaced early 18th century panelled piers surmounted by urns and flanked by low walls and a painted timber palisade. The 18th century walls in turn replaced an early 15th century timber gatehouse which guarded an outer moat, the line of which is visible in the lawn north of the drive. To the south-west the forecourt adjoins the inner moat, which is crossed by an early 18th century two-arched brick bridge which leads to the 15th and late 16th century gatehouse. The south-east side of the forecourt is formed by the early 18th century brick stables which have attic dormers and a 19th century ornamental cupola set in the tiled roof. A further drive, today a footpath, approaches the house from a minor road, Hay Lane, to the south-east. Now known as Church Walk, the footpath extends 160m north-west from Hay Lane to reach the churchyard of St James' Church which stands 320m east-south-east of the house. Passing through the churchyard adjacent to its southern boundary, the path leads through a timber gate and continues for 270m north-west to reach the service drive east of the farmyard. This path formed the principal approach to the medieval house, while the present principal approach was developed from a medieval drove track in the early 18th century. PRINCIPAL building Baddesley Clinton Hall is a 15th century moated courtyard house which stands on the site of an earlier moated dwelling. gardenS AND PLEASURE GROUNDS Informal pleasure grounds lie to the north and west of the house, while a formal walled garden lies to the south. The central courtyard of the house is also laid out as a formal garden. The courtyard garden comprises a central geometrical lawn in which are cut seven closely spaced diamond-shaped beds. The lawn is enclosed by brick and gravel-edged paths, while narrow outer lawns are planted with topiary yew acorns. The walled garden is enclosed to the north-east by the west facade of the early 18th century stables and farm buildings, and to the south-west by an 18th ccentury brick wall 3m high. The south-east boundary is formed by a lower brick wall, partly rebuilt in the mid 20th century, which allows views out across the south park and fields on rising ground beyond. A simple stone, square-section pedestal supports a sundial, which stands at the centre of a large rectangular lawn which occupies the central area of the walled enclosure. The sundial is flanked by four segmental rose beds. A gravelled perimeter Walk encircles the lawn. The north-east Walk is aligned to the south-east on a brick arch-fronted alcove, known as the Donkey House but in the 19th century used as a peacock roost, which today ontains an ornamental late 19th century timber seat. An ornamental wrought-iron gate set in an arched opening at the south-west corner of the walled garden leads to the pleasure grounds to the west of the house. Three 19th century brick and timber lean-to glasshouses, stand against the outer face of the south-west wall of the walled garden overlooking a sloping lawn which descends west towards the lake. Adjacent to the hedge which separates the pleasure grounds from the south park, the Undine Walk replaced a further area of 19th century kitchen garden which was abandoned circa 1970. The nuttery to the north-west, comprising four rows of cob nuts adjoins a mid 19th century rustic timber hut. Some 130m south-west of the house the lake or Great Pool is an irregular-shaped artificial pond which is retained by a dam to the west. Informal woodland Walks follow the banks of the lake. To the north the Walk is carried over the inlet to the lake on a rustic timber bridge with saltire-patterned balustrades which was constructed in 1996 following a 19th century pattern. Two medieval fish ponds are situated on higher ground to the north-east of the lake, some 30m north-west of the house. The larger, southern pond extends 50m from north-east to south-west, while the smaller pond lies to the north and extends 30m from north-west to south-east. park parkland lies to the north and south-east of the house. The north park is today meadow and is divided into four enclosures which correspond to those shown on the estate plan of 1699. The present north park includes the late 17th century Milking Yard north of the house, the 'Hithermost Peece of ye parke', 'The Lane Peece' which adjoined Rising Lane to the north, and the 'barne field' to the east of the drive. The late 17th century north park included two further enclosures to the north-east: 'Midle Peece of the parke', and 'Further Peece of the parke' which adjoined park Farm at the junction of Rising Lane and Hay Lane 1km north-east of the house. These enclosures had ceased to form part of the park by the late 19th century, and are agricultural land today. The north park was enclosed in the early 16th century. The south-east park comprises a meadow enclosure on rising ground to the south-east of the walled garden. To the north-east the south-east park is bounded by the Church Walk and the parish church, while to the south-east and south-west it is separated from adjacent agricultural land by hedges. A clump of ornamental trees including pines grows 100m south of the house, while extensive areas of ridge and furrow survive in the park. kitchen garden The walled garden to the south of the house was used as an ornamental kitchen garden in the late 19th century, but fell into disuse in the 1920s. A further area of kitchen garden to the south-west of the walled garden was similarly abandoned in the 1970s. Today (1999) there is no kitchen garden at Baddesley Clinton.
1 Shaded area on the 1886 map representing a park belonging to Baddesley Clinton Hall.
2 There are no obvious park boundaries, although the area is now mainly pasture and in places does seem to include possible ridge and furrow.
4 A watching brief carried out by Chris Currie in 1994 revealed what may have been substantial stone-built structures beyond the present forecourt. These may be the buildings shown on an estate map of 1699. The use of stone suggests they were not peasant properties, but well-built structures associated with the manor. The well-made cobbled surface suggests an adjoining Yard, possibly a stable Yard or demesne Farm. They seem to have been replaced by the present outbuildings after 1700. There appears to be evidence for substantial landscaping around the house in the late post-medieval period, with laying of drains and general levelling. A medieval mill appears to have disappeared between 1668 and 1699, with its former pond being reused within these landscaping schemes. This evidence, coupled with evidence for parkland-type plantings in the area known in 1699 and 1848 as The park, suggests that there was far more extensive ornamental works being undertaken at Baddesley Clinton than has previously been credited. A brick buttress located on the north side of the courtyard does not appear to be associated with the present stone wall, suggesting it may have been an earlier feature.
5 Lovie reported house as property of National Trust since 1980. At time of Lovie's visit (1996/7) parkland to North agricultural. formal garden to S recreated in early 20th century character but not to original plan; courtyard garden with heraldic design; lakeside Walk restored; orchard.
7 In 2012 a conservation management plan was created for the parkland. As part of the plan a detailed history of the site was written and all the main features in the parkland were photoggraphed and their condition assessed.
 
Sources

Source No: 5
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Warwickshire Register Review Data Tables (Warwick)
Author/originator: Lovie, Jonathan
Date: 1997
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Register of Parks and Gardens of special historic interest in England
Author/originator: English Heritage
Date: 1994
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 7
Source Type: Conservation Plan
Title: Baddesley Clinton, Parkland Plan
Author/originator: The National Trust
Date: 2012
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 6
Source Type: Statuatory List
Title: National Heritage List for England
Author/originator: Historic England
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 1
Source Type: Map
Title: 6" OS Sht 22SW CRO
Author/originator: Ordnance Survey
Date: 1886
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title: SMR Card
Author/originator: Thomson D J
Date: 1983
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: PRN 4402
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Watching Brief Report
Title: Watching Brief on service trenches at Baddesley Clinton, Warwickshire
Author/originator: C K Currie
Date: 1994
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Images:  
There are no images associated with this record.  
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Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
none Registered Park or Garden Parks and gardens that are considered to be of historic importance are placed on a register. The register comprises a variety of town gardens, public parks and country estates. The main purpose of the register is to help ensure that the features and qualities that make the parks and gardens special are safeguarded if changes are being considered which could affect them.

The gardens on the register are divided into three grades in order to give some guidance about their significance, in a similar way to Listed Buildings. The majority of parks and gardens on the Register are of sufficient interest as to be designated as grade II. Some, however, are recognised as being of exceptional historic interest and are awarded a star giving them grade II* status. A small number are of international importance, and are classified as grade I.
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source SMR Card Sites and Monuments Record Card. The Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record began to be developed during the 1970s. The details of individual archaeological sites and findspots were written on record cards. These record cards were used until the 1990s, when their details were entered on to a computerised system. The record cards are still kept at the office of the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. back
technique Earthwork Earthworks can take the form of banks, ditches and mounds. They are usually created for a specific purpose. A bank, for example, might be the remains of a boundary between two or more fields. Some earthworks may be all that remains of a collapsed building, for example, the grassed-over remains of building foundations.

In the winter, when the sun is lower in the sky than during the other seasons, earthworks have larger shadows. From the air, archaeologists are able to see the patterns of the earthworks more easily. Earthworks can sometimes be confusing when viewed at ground level, but from above, the general plan is much clearer.

Archaeologists often carry out an aerial survey or an earthwork survey to help them understand the lumps and bumps they can see on the ground.
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period Modern The Modern Period, about 1915 AD to the present (the 20th and 21st centuries AD)

In recent years archaeologists have realised the importance of recording modern sites. They do this so that in the future people will be able to look at the remains to help them understand the events to which they are related.
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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 modern About 1915 AD to the present (the 20th and 21st centuries AD)

In recent years archaeologists have realised the importance of recording modern sites. They do this so that in the future people will be able to look at the remains to help them understand the events to which they are related.
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monument YARD * A paved area, generally found at the back of a house. back
monument POOL * A small body of water, either natural or artificial. back
monument HOUSE * A building for human habitation, especially a dwelling place. Use more specific type where known. back
monument PALISADE * An enclosure of stakes driven into the ground, sometimes for defensive purposes. back
monument SITE * Unclassifiable site with minimal information. Specify site type wherever possible. back
monument FISHPOND * A pond used for the rearing, breeding, sorting and storing of fish. back
monument KITCHEN GARDEN * A private garden established primarily for growing vegetables and herbs for domestic consumption. back
monument DONKEY HOUSE * A building used to accommodate donkeys. back
monument LODGE * A small building, often inhabited by a gatekeeper, gamekeeper or similar. Use specific type where known. back
monument BUILDING * A structure with a roof to provide shelter from the weather for occupants or contents. Use specific type where known. back
monument LAKE * A large body of water surrounded by land. back
monument RIDGE AND FURROW * A series of long, raised ridges separated by ditches used to prepare the ground for arable cultivation. This was a technique, characteristic of the medieval period. back
monument STONE * Use only where stone is natural or where there is no indication of function. back
monument MANOR HOUSE * The principal house of a manor or village. 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 ARCH * A structure over an opening usually formed of wedge-shaped blocks of brick or stone held together by mutual pressure and supported at the sides; they can also be formed from moulded concrete/ cast metal. A component; use for free-standing structure only. back
monument BALUSTRADE * A row of balusters, usually made of stone, surmounted by a rail or coping. back
monument BOUNDARY * The limit to an area as defined on a map or by a marker of some form, eg. BOUNDARY WALL. Use specific type where known. back
monument MILL * A factory used for processing raw materials. Use more specific mill type where known. See also TEXTILE MILL, for more narrow terms. back
monument URN * A garden ornament, usually of stone or metal, designed in the the form of a vase used to receive the ashes of the dead. back
monument FEATURE * Areas of indeterminate function. back
monument DWELLING * Places of residence. back
monument POND * A body of still water often artificially formed for a specific purpose. Use specifc type where known. back
monument GLASSHOUSE * A building made chiefly of glass, used to grow plants and fruit in. Use more specific type where possible. back
monument PARISH CHURCH * The foremost church within a parish. back
monument DRAIN * An artificial channel for draining water or carrying it off. back
monument CHURCH * A building used for public Christian worship. Use more specific 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 FACADE * Use wider site type where known. Only use term where no other part of original building survives. back
monument DRIVE * A road/carriage way giving access from the main road to the house, stables. back
monument PATH * A way made for pedestrians, especially one merely made by walking (often not specially constructed). back
monument FORECOURT * The court or enclosed space at the front of a building or structure. back
monument ROAD * A way between different places, used by horses, travellers on foot and vehicles. back
monument FARMYARD * A yard or enclosure attached to a farmhouse, usually surrounded by other farm buildings. back
monument WALK * A place or path for walking in a park or garden. Use more specific type where possible. back
monument PEDESTAL * A concrete, cylindrical pedestal on which a spigot mortar was mounted. The pedestal is often the only evidence for a Spigot Mortar emplacement to survive. back
monument SEAT * An external structure used to sit on. back
monument PASTURE * A field covered with herbage for the grazing of livestock. back
monument HUT * A building of basic construction, usually smaller in size than a house and constructed from a variety of materials such as mud, turf, branches, wood, brick, concrete or metal. Use more specific type where known. back
monument COURTYARD * An uncovered area, surrounded or partially surrounded by buildings. back
monument GATEHOUSE * A gateway with one or more chambers over the entrance arch; the flanking towers housing stairs and additional rooms. Use with wider site type where known. back
monument WELL * A shaft or pit dug in the ground over a supply of spring-water. back
monument PIER * A structure of iron or wood, open below, running out into the sea and used as a promenade and landing stage. back
monument FIELD * An area of land, often enclosed, used for cultivation or the grazing of livestock. back
monument BRIDGE * A structure of wood, stone, iron, brick or concrete, etc, with one or more intervals under it to span a river or other space. Use specific type where known. back
monument OUTBUILDING * A detached subordinate building. Use specific type where known, eg. DAIRY. 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 COURTYARD HOUSE * A building or buildings ranged around a courtyard on at least three sides. They occur in the Iron Age, as well as being an influential plan type of house from the 15th century onwards. Index with appropriate period. back
monument TRENCH * An excavation used as a means of concealment, protection or both. back
monument CHURCHYARD * An area of ground belonging to a church, often used as a burial ground. back
monument GATEWAY * A substantial structure supporting or surrounding a gate. May be ornate or monumental, and have associated structures such as lodges, tollbooths, guard houses etc. back
monument SQUARE * An open space or area, usually square in plan, in a town or city, enclosed by residential and/or commercial buildings, frequently containing a garden or laid out with trees. 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 LANDSCAPE PARK * Grounds, usually associated with a country house, laid out so as to produce the effect of natural scenery back
monument STRUCTURE * A construction of unknown function, either extant or implied by archaeological evidence. If known, use more specific type. back
monument FARM BUILDING * A building or structure of unknown function found on a farm. Use more specific type where known. back
monument BARN * A building for the storage and processing of grain crops and for housing straw, farm equipment and occasionally livestock and their fodder. Use more specific type where known. back
monument SUNDIAL * A structure used to show the time of day by means of the sun shining on a 'gnomon', the shadow of which falls on the surface of the dial which is marked with a diagram showing the hours. Can be freestanding, usually on a pillar, or fixed to a building. back
monument HEDGE * Usually a row of bushes or small trees planted closely together to form a boundary between pieces of land or at the sides of a road. back
monument STABLE * A building in which horses are accommodated. back
monument ORCHARD * An enclosure used for the cultivation of fruit trees. back
monument MEADOW * A piece of grassland, often near a river, permanently covered with grass which is mown for use as hay. back
monument ROW * A row of buildings built during different periods, as opposed to a TERRACE. back
monument GATE PIER * A pier of brick, masonry, etc, to which the hinges of a gate are attached. back
monument WALLED GARDEN * A garden surrounded by a substantial wall. back
monument QUARRY * An excavation from which stone for building and other functions, is obtained by cutting, blasting, etc. back
monument GATE * A movable stucture which enables or prevents entrance to be gained. Usually situated in a wall or similar barrier and supported by gate posts. back
monument LAWN * A flat, and usually level area of mown and cultivated grass, attached to a house. back
monument FOOTPATH * A path for pedestrians only. back
monument FARM * A tract of land, often including a farmhouse and ancillary buildings, used for the purpose of cultivation and the rearing of livestock, etc. Use more specific type where known. back
monument FENCE * A construction of wood or metal used to enclose an area of land, a building, etc. back
monument WALL * An enclosing structure composed of bricks, stones or similar materials, laid in courses. Use specific type where known. back
monument EARTHWORK * A bank or mound of earth used as a rampart or fortification. back
monument WORKS * Usually a complex of buildings for the processing of raw materials. Use specific type where known. back
monument DAM * A barrier of concrete or earth, etc, built across a river to create a reservoir of water for domestic and/or industrial usage. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record