Information for record number MWA8617:
Umberslade Park

Summary The site of a landscape park dating from the Post Medieval period and altered throughout the Imperial period and 20th century. It is known from documentary evidence and is marked on the Ordnance Survey map of 1886. It is situated north east of Tanworth in Arden. Recommended for inclusion on Register by Lovie.
What Is It?  
Type: Landscape Park
Period: Post-medieval - Modern (1540 AD - 2050 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Tanworth in Arden
District: Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 13 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: )
Sites & Monuments Record
Description

  
Source Number  

1 House built 1693 - 8. Formal gardens removed in 1740s, replace by features incl summerhouse (1744), obelisk (1749). Neglected early 19th century, subsequently reworked. features include parkland, lakes and pools, boathouses, drives, lodges, pleasure grounds, boundary planting, terraces, walks, conservatory, walled garden, long avenue, obelisk. Recommended for addition to parks & Gardens Register.
2 The Archers held Umberslade manor from the 12th century onwards, but during the 16th and 17th centuries increased their landholding. The park is not shown on Speed's map of 1610 but probably existed by 1630. The existing manor house was rebuilt 1693-8 for Andrew Archer.The late 17th century House, itself of architectural significance, was accompanied by Formal gardens, some parts of which are shown in an illustration of 1731 [reproduced]. Beighton's map of 1725 shows that the monumental avenue already existed by this date. The Formal gardens were removed in the 1740s and a landscape park, influenced by the ferme ornee style, laid out (designer not known). features of this phase included a summerhouse (not extant), obelisk (outside the park), and lake. But in the late 18th century the House ceased to be occupied by the family, and much of the park had been turned over to agriculture by 1815. From the mid 19th century onwards a new phase of landscaping took place, making use of surviving features of earlier schemes. The main entrance to the House was shifted to the east side, and a new avenue planted to flank its drive. Formal gardens were laid out across the old west front, the kitchen garden was restored, and there was extensive 19th century planting in the pleasure grounds and park. The 19th century layout has been altered by the late 20th century conversion into flats, with the entrance being returned to the west side, thus cutting across the Formal gardens. Part of the land has been returned to agricultural use and the avenue is somewhat overgrown. Umberslade is a significant site with the potential for further detailed study, as the Archer archives (held at the Shakespeare Birthplace Record Office) are extensive. [Photos included].
3 The OS 1:10560 1886 Sht Warks 24SE shows the 19th century park after the eastern drive had been laid out.
4 The OS 1:10560 1921 Sht Warks 24SE shows the park shaded and shows further alterations in the area west of the House; the layout of the walled kitchen garden is also clearly shown.
5 Portable Antiquities Scheme find provenance information: Date found: 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z Methods of discovery: Metal detector
 
Sources
Source No: 1
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: 2
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Warwickshire Register Review Report & Recommendations
Author/originator: Lovie, Jonathan
Date: 1997
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No:
Source Type: Internet Data
Title: Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) Database
Author/originator: British Museum
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Map
Title: 24SE 1:10560 1886
Author/originator: Ordnance Survey
Date: 1886
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 24SE
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Map
Title: 24SE 1:10560 1921
Author/originator: Ordnance Survey
Date: 1921
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 24SE
   
Images:  
There are no images associated with this record.  
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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
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 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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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 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 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 LODGE * A small building, often inhabited by a gatekeeper, gamekeeper or similar. Use specific type where known. back
monument LAKE * A large body of water surrounded by land. 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 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 FLATS * A purpose-built tenement. Use specific monument type where possible. back
monument FEATURE * Areas of indeterminate function. back
monument DRIVE * A road/carriage way giving access from the main road to the house, stables. back
monument OBELISK * A tall, tapering pillar with a pyramidal top, generally square on plan. Used in England from the late 16th century as a public, funerary or garden monument. back
monument WALK * A place or path for walking in a park or garden. Use more specific type where possible. 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 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 RECORD OFFICE * A building where official archives are kept for public inspection. back
monument WALLED GARDEN * A garden surrounded by a substantial wall. back
monument FERME ORNEE * A rustic building of picturesque design, often associated with a model farm, country house or estate. Although ornamental in design they are intended to be functional. 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