Information for record number MWA6952:
18th century landscaped park and house at Newnham Paddox

Summary A mid 18th century landscape laid out by Lancelot Brown from 1746, with early 19th century alterations by John Webb and late 19th century gardens by John Fleming.
What Is It?  
Type: Priests House, Formal Garden, Pond, Landscape Park, Kitchen Garden, Drive, Country House, Garden Terrace, Lake, Walk
Period: Modern - Modern (1500 AD - 2050 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Monks Kirby
District: Rugby, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 47 83
(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
Picture(s) attached

  
Description

  
Source Number  

1
2 Newnham Paddox is situated east of the village of Monks Kirby, the 135 heactre site comprises 20 heactre of gardens, pleasure grounds and ponds, and 115 heactres of park and woodland. The site is generally quite level, with a gentle slope rising to the north. A ridge of slightly higher ground extends south into the park to the west of the site of the house, while to the east a small stream flows south through a shallow valley. A further stream, the Smite Brook, crosses the south park from east to west in a shallow valley 700m south-east of the house site. Newnham Paddox is approached from Monks Kirby to the west. The tarmac drive leads 240m east through the park, before sweeping north-east for 300m and ascending a slight ridge which extends south into the park. Descending, the principal drive continues east-north-east for 270m before turning south-east for 100m and joining the south drive. The south drive leads north-west from the Lutterworth Road, crossing the Smite Brook on Folly Bridge, the drive climbs gently north-west and north-north-west for 550m through the south park to join the west drive to approach the stables. The 18th and 19th centuries course of the drive continues for 100m through a late 19th century avenue, and then 80m north to enter a forecourt south of the site of the house through monumental early or mid 18th century wrought- and cast-iron gates. PRINCIPAL BUILDING Newnham Paddox was demolished in 1952, now the principal BUILDING to which the site relates is the 18th century stable court which was converted to domestic use in the mid 20th century. A shallow flight of stone steps descends from the site of the forecourt to a wide grass terrace which extends 60m south to an area of lawns and specimen trees, and 60m north to a flight of stone steps which descends to the pleasure grounds. To the south-east an east-facing grass slope descends to a sunken rectangular lawn. To the north of the sunken lawn and below the site of the east facade of the house, a further sunken lawn is approached from the upper terrace by a flight of stone steps. This northern sunken lawn was a late 19th century formal flower garden with perimeter walks enclosing lawns and geometric flower beds; semicircular bastions projected from the centre of the north, south and east sides of the garden, which appears to have been enclosed by hedges. A walk leads north-west from the steps at the north end of the east terrace. There is a further area of lawns, specimen trees and shrubs to the west of the formal walk. To the north of the junction the walk continues as an informal path, passing for 250m through an ornamental plantation, The Grove, to the west of an informal lake. An informal walk leads north-east along a dam which retains a further informal lake, the Middle pond, which extends north into the park. At the south-east corner of the Middle pond a mid 20th century summerhouse is constructed on the site of a 19th century structure. The walk returns west across the dam which retains the Middle pond, to rejoin the principal walk through The Grove. A walk extending west across an area of informal lawns south of the stables leads to the western pleasure grounds. Here a wide, mown grass walk extends west-north-west parallel to the boundary between the pleasure grounds and the park to the south, which is here formed by metal estate fencing. A curvilinear walk sweeps north-west and west around the Pinetum, leading through dense evergreen shrubberies to the remains of a small conservatory constructed against the outer face of the south wall of the kitchen garden. park The park lies to the north, east, south and south-west of the site of the house. The northern and eastern areas of park remain as pasture. The south-west park remains pasture with scattered mature trees to the north and south of the west drive. A further area of plantation, Cabbage Clump, is planted on a west-facing slope 670m south-west of the site of the house. kitchen garden The kitchen garden lies 130m north-west of the stables and 200m north-west of the site of the house, immediately to the west of the northern pleasure grounds. Octagonal on plan, the garden is enclosed by brick walls 3m high with entrances set at the centre of the east, north and west walls.
3 Lovie reports those items mentioned above. Also icehouse
 
Sources
Source No: 2
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: 3
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Warwickshire Register Review Data Tables (North Warwickshire, Nuneaton & Bedworth, Rugby)
Author/originator: Lovie, Jonathan
Date: 1997
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 1
Source Type: Statuatory List
Title: National Heritage List for England
Author/originator: Historic England
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Images:  
A view of Newnham Paddox House, Monks Kirby
Copyright: Warwickshire County Council
Date: 1920s
Click here for larger image  
 
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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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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 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 FLOWER BED * A plot of earth used for the raising of flowers and shrubs. back
monument COUNTRY HOUSE * The rural residence of a country gentleman. back
monument ICEHOUSE * A structure, partly underground, for the preservation of ice for use during warmer weather. back
monument CONSERVATORY * A glasshouse used to grow and display tender decorative plants. May be either an extension to a house or freestanding. back
monument HOUSE * A building for human habitation, especially a dwelling place. Use more specific type where known. back
monument VILLAGE * A collection of dwelling-houses and other buildings, usually larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town with a simpler organisation and administration than the latter. back
monument SITE * Unclassifiable site with minimal information. Specify site type wherever possible. back
monument KITCHEN GARDEN * A private garden established primarily for growing vegetables and herbs for domestic consumption. 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 STONE * Use only where stone is natural or where there is no indication of function. 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 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 POND * A body of still water often artificially formed for a specific purpose. Use specifc type where known. 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 WALK * A place or path for walking in a park or garden. Use more specific type where possible. back
monument PASTURE * A field covered with herbage for the grazing of livestock. back
monument PINETUM * An arboretum devoted mainly to the growing of conifers. back
monument FLOWER GARDEN * A garden in which flower beds are the primary focal point. 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 BASTION * A flanking tower, or projection from the main walls of a defensive work from which a garrison can defend the ground in front or on the flank. back
monument SUMMERHOUSE * A building in a garden or park designed to provide a shady retreat from the heat of the sun. 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 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 PLANTATION * A group of planted trees or shrubs, generally of uniform age and of a single species. back
monument PRIESTS HOUSE * The residence of a priest. back
monument CROSS * A free-standing structure, in the form of a cross (+), symbolizing the structure on which Jesus Christ was crucified and sacred to the Christian faith. Use specific type where known. back
monument FOLLY * A structure, often found in 18th century landscape gardens, that demonstrates eccentricity or excess rather than practical purpose. They can take many forms - ruins, sham castles, towers, hermits' cells or grottoes. 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 GARDEN TERRACE * A flat, level area of ground within a garden. Often raised and accessed by steps. back
monument LAWN * A flat, and usually level area of mown and cultivated grass, attached to a house. back
monument STEPS * A series of flat-topped structures, usually made of stone or wood, used to facilitate a person's movement from one level to another. back
monument STREAM * A natural flow or current of water issuing from a source. back
monument WALL * An enclosing structure composed of bricks, stones or similar materials, laid in courses. Use specific type where known. back
monument DOMESTIC * This is the top term for the class. See DOMESTIC Class List for narrow terms. 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
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