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HER Number (PRN):07711
Name:Wattlesborough Castle Gardens
Type of Record:Monument
Protected Status:None recorded

Monument Type(s):

  • GARDEN (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1901 AD)

Summary

Medieval to post medieval gardens, associated with Wattlesborough Hall (PRN 18577) and Castle (PRN 13191).

Parish:Alberbury with Cardeston, Shrewsbury and Atcham, Shropshire
Map Sheet:SJ31SE
Grid Reference:SJ 35 12

Related records

30793Parent of: Site of moat, SW of Wattlesborough Hall and Castle (Monument)
30794Parent of: Site of possible fishpond, SE of Wattlesborough Hall and Castle (Monument)
13191Part of: Wattlesborough Castle, remains of, adjoining Wattlesborough Hall to NW (Building)

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

  • ESA6843 - 2004 DBA and building recording of Wattlesborough Tower, Wattlesborough by R K Morriss & Associates

Description

Wattlesborough Castle is a medieval fortified structure, perhaps best resembling a tower house. It today forms a part of a later structure, Wattlesborough Hall. South-west of Hall and Castle are moated enclosures (now partly infilled), and south-east is a fishpond. These hint at the medieval castle's gardens and ancillary courts (PRN 13191; V.C.H. Shropshire 8 (1968), 197-8, 216-17). <1>

For the moat to the south-west of the Hall, which perhaps later became a garden feature (or pleasuance) see PRN 30793. For the possible fishpond to the south-east of the Hall, see PRN 30794. <4>

Part of the layout of the gardens is shown on the Tithe Map of 1847, which depicts the moated platform, perhaps a garden feature or pleasuance (see PRN 30793) to the SW of the hall, identified as 'Cherry Orchard, and a possible fishpond (see PRN 30794), identified as 'Horse Pool' to the SE of the hall. In addition, a field is identified as 'Dove House croft' to the south of the hall. ->

-> The post-medieval development of the site seems to have led to the creation of large formal gardens, especially to the south and west. It is suggested that the tower (PRN 13191) at this time may have been a belvedere, overlooking the central axis of this large and formal garden surrounded by a watered moat. At present, this has not been investigated in the field through archaeology, and is presently impossible to date. Stanley Leighton, writing at the end of the 1870s refers to this area as being 'the vestiges of an Elizabethan garden'. During the 19th century, the layout of the gardens clearly began to become less and less fine. <5>

Photographed during aerial survey in 2012. <6>

Sources

[01]SSA10241 - Field survey report: Stamper Paul A. 1993. A Survey of Historic Parks and Gardens in Shropshire. SCCAS Rep. 41.
[02]SSA24658 - Webpage: Parks and Gardens UK. 2014. Parks and Gardens UK. http://www.parksandgardens.org/.
[03]SSA1126 - Volume: Gaydon A T (ed). 1968. Victoria County History 8: Condover and Ford Hundreds. Victoria County History of Shropshire. Vol 8. p197-198 & 216-217.
[04]SSA26784 - HER comment: Carey Giles. 2014 onwards. Comments by Giles Carey, HER compiler in HER database. 17/09/2014.
[05]SSA24258 - Field survey report: Morriss Richard K. 2004. Wattlesborough Tower, Wattlesborough, Shropshire: an archaeological and architectural analysis and survey. Mercian Heritage Series. 223. pp.45-46.
[06]SSA26597 - Oblique aerial photograph: Shropshire Council. 2012-May-23. SA1201_065 to SA1201_069 (5 photos) Flight: 12_SA_01. Colour. Digital.
Date Last Edited:Jul 1 2022 12:45PM

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