Monument record HNV 010 - Hengrave Park

Acquired from the Crown in 1521, new hall built in 1525, visited by Queen Elizabeth in 1578 (S11, R1). A licence was granted in 1587 to Sir Thomas Kytson of Hengrave Hall to empark 300a of land in Hengrave, Fornham All Saints, Risby, Flempton and Lackford. The park was stocked with deer in the same year. In 1712 the extent of the whole was 500a. In 1822 the park contained 230a of pasture of which about 30a were in Fornham parish (S1, R1).

`Hengrave Park is shown and named on a map of 1588, which shows it crossing earlier open-field strips on the S side (S2, R1) the recently created park pale cut through the agricultural landscape, contained deer demonstrated by book of deer at Hengrave in 1587. A line of pollards were seen, which originally grew in a hedge, shown on 1588 map, removed by 1742. Possible fish pond to east of the moated hall (S11, R1)

Changes between 1742-1762 included: the kitchen garden was extended (See HNV 041), the bowling green and west garden remained but the use of the two south courts changes. The area marked as 'Dovehouse Yard' in 1742 became an orchard and the lower yard became a stable.

Sir Thomas Gage was asked to redesign the park in 1777 which included changes to the Hall (See HNV 013). 1769 map shows that the park still contained some formal features, the avenue survived with terminal viewing mount, also a circular pond and two subsidiary avenues. The moat was given a more serpentine form and a perimeter tree belt created. Parts of the west belt, planted in 1770s, contained hornbeam stools (for coppicing). In 1860s plants were purchased from London nurseries of Lee, Veitch and Waterer (S11).

See HNV 012 for treelined avenue.

By the mid C18 the extreme western part seems to have been disparked, as shown on maps of 1742 (S3) and 1769 (S4), but the whole area is marked as a park on J Hodskinson's Map of Suffolk 1783m & on a map of 1778 (S6). In 1742 the Deer Park was said to contain 217a (S3). In 1769 the Deer Park contained 229a, but the whole area of the lands called `The Old Park' was given as 433a (S4).
The western boundary of the park, as shown on the OS 1st edition map of 1837 and the 1:10560 map is shown by HNV 011. Still marked as a park on the modern 1:10000 map.
For earthwork within park on AP, see (S5).

Geophysical survey carried out in 1999, at the front of the house inside the horse shoe ditches, and in the church yard (S8)

Small excavation over the western horse shoe ditch (S9)

Also test pits were dug by Reilly, but no location can be identified although 5 small bags of finds including pottery glass and a coin (Roman?) were found, now in parish box in the store.
See also HNV 011, 012, 013.