Park Pale (Warkworth)
A reference to the plan made in 1623 will show that the space enclosed in the bend in the river to the west of and above Warkworth Castle was comprised within the Lord's park. A park seems to have existed from the 13th century onwards, for Roger Fitz-John, who died in 1249, possessed a small wood called Sunderland of half a league circuit. This was enlarged c.1480 by Henry, 4th Earl of Northumberland, who acquired some closes and banks on the north side of the R Coquet. This enclosure, called Sunderland Park, containing the Lord's wild animals, must have comprised an area of upwards of 270 acres; it was well wooded and enclosed by a pale or wooden fence.
In 1486-7 a new pinfold was made in the park, and palings were repaired in 1488-9. In 1512 there were 150 fallow deer in the park. The circumference of the park in 1537 was c.2 miles, and the palings 'sore decayed'.
A survey made c.1616 says '...on the west side of the castle is a little park....the deer are all destroyed and the pales pulled down'. (1)
The park pale is shown on this plan commencing 100m west of the gatehouse (NU20NW1.4) running due south for c.260m where it turns westward and runs to the River Coquet. After crossing the river it follows the parish boundary between Warkworth and Brotherwick along the north side of the river and returns to a point 110m to the west of the Keep (NU20NW1.1) of Warkworth Castle. (2)
A-B NU 24600572 - 24630567: no trace up river bank.
B-C NU 24630567 - 24630557: Slight remains of ditch 4m wide and 0.5m deep on course.
C-D NU 24630557 - 24650546: Footpath on course with slight ditch, probably modern, along west side.
D-E NU 24650546 - 24490542: Course marked by line of trees on lynchet bank 2m wide and from 0.3 to 1.3m high.
E-F NU 24490542 - NU 23330510: Hedge and footpath on line - no trace of antiquity.
F-G NU 23330510 - NU 23230505: no trace - River Coquet on course.
G-H NU 23230505 - NU 23260628: Course follows parish boundary - no trace.
H-J NU 23260628 - NU 23370629: Bank and ditch 4m wide and 1m deep marks course - this may be the bank of the parish boundary.
J-K NU 23370629 - NU 24470590: Parish boundary on line with traces of ditch 3m wide and 0.6m deep.
K-L NU 24470590 - NU 24600582: Modern hedge bank on line.
L-A NU 24600582 - NU 24600572: River Coquet forms natural barrier making a park pale unnecessary between these points.
The area enclosed by the park pale is now farmland; there is no trace of the pinfold referred to in T1. (3)
Park Pale, or Park Pale (course of). (4)
The course is as described by F1, but the remains noted between H-J are no longer discernible, and the ditch between J-K of which he reports traces, appears to be modern. Modern features follow the course throughout its length. (5)
Site noted within a desk-based assessment of the area. The remains of Medieval and Post Medieval boundary ditch earthworks are noted. (6)
This record includes National Record of the Historic Environment Information provided by Historic England on 4 January 2021 licensed under the Open Government Licence [www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/]
In 1486-7 a new pinfold was made in the park, and palings were repaired in 1488-9. In 1512 there were 150 fallow deer in the park. The circumference of the park in 1537 was c.2 miles, and the palings 'sore decayed'.
A survey made c.1616 says '...on the west side of the castle is a little park....the deer are all destroyed and the pales pulled down'. (1)
The park pale is shown on this plan commencing 100m west of the gatehouse (NU20NW1.4) running due south for c.260m where it turns westward and runs to the River Coquet. After crossing the river it follows the parish boundary between Warkworth and Brotherwick along the north side of the river and returns to a point 110m to the west of the Keep (NU20NW1.1) of Warkworth Castle. (2)
A-B NU 24600572 - 24630567: no trace up river bank.
B-C NU 24630567 - 24630557: Slight remains of ditch 4m wide and 0.5m deep on course.
C-D NU 24630557 - 24650546: Footpath on course with slight ditch, probably modern, along west side.
D-E NU 24650546 - 24490542: Course marked by line of trees on lynchet bank 2m wide and from 0.3 to 1.3m high.
E-F NU 24490542 - NU 23330510: Hedge and footpath on line - no trace of antiquity.
F-G NU 23330510 - NU 23230505: no trace - River Coquet on course.
G-H NU 23230505 - NU 23260628: Course follows parish boundary - no trace.
H-J NU 23260628 - NU 23370629: Bank and ditch 4m wide and 1m deep marks course - this may be the bank of the parish boundary.
J-K NU 23370629 - NU 24470590: Parish boundary on line with traces of ditch 3m wide and 0.6m deep.
K-L NU 24470590 - NU 24600582: Modern hedge bank on line.
L-A NU 24600582 - NU 24600572: River Coquet forms natural barrier making a park pale unnecessary between these points.
The area enclosed by the park pale is now farmland; there is no trace of the pinfold referred to in T1. (3)
Park Pale, or Park Pale (course of). (4)
The course is as described by F1, but the remains noted between H-J are no longer discernible, and the ditch between J-K of which he reports traces, appears to be modern. Modern features follow the course throughout its length. (5)
Site noted within a desk-based assessment of the area. The remains of Medieval and Post Medieval boundary ditch earthworks are noted. (6)
This record includes National Record of the Historic Environment Information provided by Historic England on 4 January 2021 licensed under the Open Government Licence [www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/]
N5409
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1954; J H Ostridge
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1971; B H Pritchard
DESK BASED ASSESSMENT, Southern Trunk Main Warkworth to North Gosforth. Archaeological and Cultural Heritage Assessment 2006; Tyne and Wear Museums
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1971; B H Pritchard
DESK BASED ASSESSMENT, Southern Trunk Main Warkworth to North Gosforth. Archaeological and Cultural Heritage Assessment 2006; Tyne and Wear Museums
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