Information for record number MWA7847:
Clopton Park

Summary Clopton Park, a Park which was originally a Post Medieval deer park. The Park now incorporates elements of 17th and 19th century landscape design. It is located to the north of Clopton. Recommended for inclusion on Local List by Lovie.
What Is It?  
Type: Park, Deer Park, Landscape Park
Period: Post-medieval (1540 AD - 1750 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Stratford upon Avon
District: Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 20 56
(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 A deerpark is recorded at Clopton in 1564. Shown on Speed's map of 1610. Possibly created in c.1540 when common fields at Clopton were enclosed. Traces of possible park pale survive on east and west sides of the park surrounding well preserved relict ridge and furrow. Clopton House was rebuilt in c.1665 and there is evidence that further landscaping took place at this time, involving creation of avenues to the east, west and possibly to the south of the House, gardens around the House, possibly garden terraces east of the House and creation of a group of three ornamental fishponds. The park was extended by Charles Warde between 1843 (shown on a map Shakespeare Birthplace Trust - DR/287/43) and 1865 when Charles Warde died. The park was extended to the north and east, Clopton Tower (WA 1034) was built, the gardens around the House were extended and extensive planting of existing avenues and new belts took place. This phase of expansion is shown on the 1886 OS 1st edition 6' map. In recent times the southern part of the park has been covered by housing development. See source for further details of earthwork features recorded across the parkland.
2 Also notes existence of a ha-ha, kitchen garden and walled garden. The House was split into flats in 1982 and the land is under development threat. Recommended for inclusion on Local List.
3 Rolling parkland surrounding House forms important open space for Stratford. There are several walled enclosures east of the House which were probably gardens developed in the 17th century, but there is little documentary evidence of the form which the gardens took, except for an illustration showing the lawn and drive to the front of the House c1800 (reproduced in source). The park was neglected in the early 19th century, when the park was let, but was sold in 1831 to George Lloyd of the neighbouring Welcombe estate. A number of alterations and additions were made in the rest of the 19th century, but several of these, including a conservatory, were removed in the early 20th century.
4 ,
5 The OS 1:10560 1886 Shts 38SW/44NW show formal gardens surrounding the House and the remains of several possible avenues.
6 The OS 1:10560 1926 Sht 38SW shows the grounds shaded.
7 The OS 1:10560 1938 Sht 44NW shows the park at that date shaded, together with some late features including a swimming bath north east of the House.
8 Clopton park not shown on early 19th century maps - reinstated later in 19th century. With map analysing development of park.
9 Illustrative maps showing development of park.
10 19th century enclosure noted.
 
Sources
Source No: 1
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Clopton Park, A Survey of the Landscape
Author/originator: Debois Landscape Survey Group
Date: 1996
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 2
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: 3
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Warwickshire Register Review Report & Recommendations
Author/originator: Lovie, Jonathan
Date: 1997
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 10
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: 4
Source Type: Map
Title: 38SW 1:10560 1886
Author/originator: Ordnance Survey
Date: 1886
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 38SW
   
Source No: 5
Source Type: Map
Title: 44NW 1:10560 1886
Author/originator: Ordnance Survey
Date: 1886
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 44NW
   
Source No: 6
Source Type: Map
Title: 38SW 1:10560 1926
Author/originator: Ordnance Survey
Date: 1926
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 38SW
   
Source No: 7
Source Type: Map
Title: 44NW 1:10560 1938
Author/originator: Ordnance Survey
Date: 1938
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 44NW
   
Source No: 9
Source Type: Map
Title: Historic Landscape Assessment Maps
Author/originator: Hooke D
Date: 1999
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 8
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title: Historic Landscape Assessment
Author/originator: Hooke D
Date: 1999
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Images:  
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Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
technique Documentary Evidence Documentary evidence is another name for written records. The first written records in Britain date back to the Roman period. Documentary evidence can take many different forms, including maps, charters, letters and written accounts. When archaeologists are researching a site, they often start by looking at documentary evidence to see if there are clues that will help them understand what they might find. Documentary evidence can help archaeologists understand sites that are discovered during an excavation, field survey or aerial survey. 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 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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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 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 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 DEER PARK * A large park for keeping deer. In medieval times the prime purpose was for hunting. 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 FLATS * A purpose-built tenement. Use specific monument type where possible. back
monument FEATURE * Areas of indeterminate function. back
monument TOWER * A tall building, either round, square or polygonal in plan, used for a variety of purposes, including defence, as a landmark, for the hanging of bells, industrial functions, etc. Use more specific type where known. back
monument DRIVE * A road/carriage way giving access from the main road to the house, stables. back
monument WELL * A shaft or pit dug in the ground over a supply of spring-water. back
monument FIELD * An area of land, often enclosed, used for cultivation or the grazing of livestock. 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 PARK PALE * A wooden stake fence, often associated with deer hunting. 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 WALLED GARDEN * A garden surrounded by a substantial wall. 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 EARTHWORK * A bank or mound of earth used as a rampart or fortification. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record