Information for record number MWA7071:
Combe Abbey Landscape Park

Summary A late 18th century park landscaped by Lancelot Brown with structures designed by Henry Holland, together with mid and late 19th century formal gardens laid out by William Andrews Nesfield and William Miller which incorporate elements of late 16th and early 17th century formal gardens.
What Is It?  
Type: Landscape Park, Kitchen Garden, Formal Garden, Moat, Drive, Cascade, Lake, Garden Terrace, Balustrade, Walk, Ride, Animal Cemetery, Ha Ha, Deer Park
Period: Modern - Modern (1771 AD - 2050 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Binley Woods
District: Rugby, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 40 79
(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  

1
6 Combe Abbey's 270 hectare site comprises 6 hectares of formal gardens and informal pleasure grounds, 2 hectares of walled gardens, and 262 hectares of parkland, lakes and avenues. The site is bounded to the south by the A427 road which runs west from the village of Brinklow to Coventry, while two avenues extend to the south of this road to the south and south-west of the house. ENTRANCES AND APPROACHES Combe Abbey is approached from the A427 to the south. The entrance is marked by a pair of late 18th century rusticated stone piers and leads to a double avenue of limes and horse chestnuts through which the tarmac drive extends 670m north to approach the south front of the house. The south drive assumed its present form in the mid 18th century when a public road 250m south of the house was diverted to the course of the present A427 road. A mid 19th century stone bridge supported by two unequally sized gothic arches carries the cobbled drive across the mid 19th century moat to enter a courtyard enclosed by the west, north and east ranges of the house. Further late 18th century drives approach the house from the south-west and south-east. The late 18th century West Lodge is situated 1km south-west of the house. West Lodge formerly led to a drive which led north-east across the deer park for 980m to join the south drive 50m south of the house. The late 18th century East Lodge stands on high ground 1.3km south-east of the house. PRINCIPAL BUILDING Combe Abbey stands near the centre of the site on level ground and comprises three ranges constructed to the west, north and east of a courtyard which is enclosed to the south by a mid 19th century stone parapet above a mid 19th century moat constructed to the design of W A Nesfield. GARDENS AND PLEASURE GROUNDS The formal gardens are situated to the east and west of the house, with further areas of informal pleasure grounds to the north. Immediately to the east of the house an approximately rectangular area of lawn is enclosed. The GARDENs are today bounded to the south by a mid 19th century moat which flows below the south facade of the east and west wings of the house. To the east the moat is terminated by a rocky cascade. The moat flows into the lake to the west, and to the north-west is bounded by a stone wall which retains the west terraces. To the west of the house a series of formal terraces descend to the lake. The upper terrace below the west facade comprises a wide panel of grass, to the west of which a wide stone-flagged walk leads south to steps which descend to the moat, and north to a wrought-iron gate flanked by low stone piers surmounted by carved stone fishes which provides access to the pleasure grounds. A flight of stone steps aligned on the centre of the west façade descends to the lower terrace which is laid out with two symmetrical parterres formed by low box hedges set on lawns. The parterre lawns are divided by a central stone-flagged walk which leads west from the east steps to a further wide flight of steps which descends to the lake. The informal pleasure grounds to the north-west of the Abbey comprise areas of lawn. A gravel walk continues the axis of the upper terrace north through the pleasure grounds, passing, 50m north of the house, a late 19th century dogs' cemetery set beneath a weeping ash, before curving north-west to pass to the north-east of a raised bank. A walk returns to the west of this mound, parallel to the canalised Smite Brook which feeds the lake to the south-west. The pleasure grounds are today significantly simplified and reduced in area from that shown on William Miller's plan (1897), which in turn agrees in outline with the late 19th and early 20th century OS maps. The extent of the pleasure grounds is marked to the north and south-east by a mid C18 ha-ha. Similarly, the network of curvilinear gravel walks has been significantly reduced throughout the pleasure grounds. park Areas of park lie to the north-west and south-west of the house, with paddocks to the north-east and south-east. Today, these areas remain pasture with scattered trees and more extensive areas of plantation, known as Little Wrautam, to the north-west, c 650m north-west of the house. The west park is dominated by a serpentine lake created in the late 18th century by Lancelot Brown, which flows west from the house towards the western boundary of the park where it sweeps south and south-east enclosing a broad promontory 1.5km south-west of the house, on which stands the late 18th century Menagerie. A further early 20th century house, Highfield, stands in the park 160m north of the Menagerie. Some 500m north-east of the Menagerie a single-storey, late 18th century brick boathouse, also to the designs of Brown, stands on the south side of the lake. The kennels, designed by Brown in a gothic style, stood to the west of the south drive, c 500m south of the house; this structure had been removed by 1886 (OS). The park to the north-east of the house is today divided into paddocks bounded to the north by the Smite Brook, and to the east by the minor road leading to Ansty. A series of earthwork remains of monastic fishponds survive in this area. To the north-west the Smite Brook is dammed to form a lake, Top Pool, while 400m north-west of the house a star-shaped decoy pond is today overgrown and crossed by board walks used for bird-watching. A carriage drive leads north-west from the pleasure grounds, crossing the dam of Top Pool to pass through mixed woodland to reach Little Wrautam. KITCHEN GARDEN The KITCHEN GARDEN is situated 130m north-east of the house and is enclosed by brick walls 3m high. The centre of the south-west wall is formed into a short arcade of late 19th century gothic arches supported by squat stone columns. The KITCHEN GARDEN was constructed in the mid 18th century. Glasshouses constructed against the inner face of the north-west wall and at the north-east end of the GARDEN do not survive. A two-storey, late 19th century brick GARDENer's house and a range of bothies and sheds stand to the north-west end of the GARDEN.
2 A comprehensive archaeological assessment of the Abbey and its surroundings was undertaken in 1991 as part of an evaluation connected with the planning application for a hotel development. This includes recommendations for revitalising the park.
3Geophysical survey within the area to the south of the Abbey was inconclusive. Subsequent excavation of trenches across possible features recorded a large number of cattle bones, some still articulated, in a lime mortar deposit; this was interpreted as a post-medieval feature, representing the disposal of rotten or diseased meat/carcasses.
4 Management plan: assessment of the historical landscape of the park and management strategies for each component.
5 Mapped extent altered to include the full line of the Tweleve O'Clock Ride, as it continues south and survives as a track through Birchley wood.
7 The formal gardens shown in Kipp and Knyff's view of 1707 were removed in the mid 18th century, probably under the direction of Lancelot Brown. The banks enclosing the Great GARDEN survive to the east of the house and apart from the creation of an early 19th century tennis court this area has remained undisturbed. It is thought that this area is part of the 17th century GARDENs. The park was enclosure in 1622 and it is thought that the Tweleve O'Clock Ride and others shown on the 1886 OS map may date to the 17th century. By the mid 18th century the parkland appears to include Binley Common.
 
Sources
Source No: 1
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: Bibliographic reference
Title: Warwickshire Register Review Report & Recommendations
Author/originator: Lovie, Jonathan
Date: 1997
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Conservation Plan
Title: Coombe Country Park Management Plan
Author/originator: Taylor J
Date: 2006
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Evaluation Report
Title: Combe Abbey, Coventry, Warwickshire. An archaeological assessment.
Author/originator: Cov Mus
Date: 1991
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Evaluation Report
Title: Combe Abbey, Warwickshire An Archaeological Evaluation
Author/originator: Coventry Museums Archaeology Unit
Date: 1991
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: 5
Source Type: Verbal communication
Title: Pers. Comm. Giles Carey
Author/originator: G Carey
Date: 2009-2014
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Images:  
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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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technique Geophysical Survey The measuring and recording of electrical resistivity or magnetism in order to determine the existence and outline of buried features such as walls and ditches. Geophysical techniques include resistivity survey, magnetometer survey and ground penetrating radar. View Image 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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technique excavation Archaeologists excavate sites so that they can find information and recover archaeological materials before they are destroyed by erosion, construction or changes in land-use.

Depending on how complicated and widespread the archaeological deposits are, excavation can be done by hand or with heavy machinery. Archaeologists may excavate a site in a number of ways; either by open area excavation, by digging a test pit or a trial trench.
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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 POOL * A small body of water, either natural or artificial. back
monument HOTEL * A large building used for the accommodation of paying travellers and guests. back
monument PADDOCK * An enclosed field for horses. 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 DECOY POND * A pond or pool with arms covered with nets into which wild birds, are lured and then caught. Monument type includes water feeder channels. 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 CARVED STONE * A stone (including standing stones, natural boulders and rock outcrops) decorated with carved motifs. 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 DEER PARK * A large park for keeping deer. In medieval times the prime purpose was for hunting. 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 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 FEATURE * Areas of indeterminate function. back
monument GLASSHOUSE * A building made chiefly of glass, used to grow plants and fruit in. Use more specific type where possible. 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 ABBEY * A religious house governed by an abbot or abbess. Use with narrow terms of DOUBLE HOUSE, MONASTERY or NUNNERY. back
monument DRIVE * A road/carriage way giving access from the main road to the house, stables. 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 TENNIS COURT * A prepared area, traditionally grass, where tennis is played. back
monument PASTURE * A field covered with herbage for the grazing of livestock. back
monument PARTERRE * A level space in a garden occupied by ornamental flower beds. back
monument COURTYARD * An uncovered area, surrounded or partially surrounded by buildings. 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 CASCADE * An artificial fall of water often taking the form of a water staircase. 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 ENCLOSURE * An area of land enclosed by a boundary ditch, bank, wall, palisade or other similar barrier. Use specific type where known. back
monument CEMETERY * An area of ground, set apart for the burial of the dead. 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 TRENCH * An excavation used as a means of concealment, protection or both. back
monument KENNELS * A house or range of buildings in which dogs are kept, eg. hunting hounds. back
monument COLUMN * Use for free standing column. 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 COUNTRY PARK * An area of managed countryside designated for visitors to enjoy recreations, such as walking specified parks and trails, in a rural environment. Often provides public facilities such as parking, toilets, cafes and visitor information. back
monument SHED * A slight structure built for shelter or storage, or for use as a workshop, either attached as a lean-to to a permanent building or separate. Use more specific type where known. 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 RIDE * A road or way for riding on horseback within a park or estate. back
monument PLANTATION * A group of planted trees or shrubs, generally of uniform age and of a single species. back
monument HA HA * A dry ditch or sunken fence which divided the formal garden from the landscaped park without interrupting the view. back
monument WALLED GARDEN * A garden surrounded by a substantial wall. back
monument ANIMAL CEMETERY * A burial site for animals. 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 MOUND * A natural or artificial elevation of earth or stones, such as the earth heaped upon a grave. Use more specific type where known. 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 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