The West Berkshire Historic Environment Record (HER) is the primary index of the physical remains of past human activity in the unitary authority of West Berkshire Council. Limited elements of the West Berkshire HER are available online via the Heritage Gateway, therefore it is not suitable for use in desk-based studies associated with development, planning and land-use changes, and does not meet the requirements of paragraph 194 of the National Planning Policy Framework (2021: 56). Please read the important guidance on the use of the West Berkshire HER data. For these purposes and all other commercial enquiries, please contact the Archaeology team and complete our online HER enquiry form.

This site is designated as being of national importance and is afforded additional protection. Consult West Berkshire Council's Archaeology team if more information or advice is needed.

Summary

Site of an 18th century ornamental canal and cascade originally opposite the south front of Shaw House but largely filled in during the later 20th century

Associated Legal Designations or Protected Status

• Conservation Area: Shaw House and St Mary's Church, Shaw
• Registered Park or Garden (II) 1001446: Shaw House

Other Statuses and Cross-References

• Berkshire SMR No. (pre 2000): 03467.04.000
  

Monument Type(s):

• ORNAMENTAL CANAL (18th century to Cold War - 1701 AD? to 1970 AD?)
• REFLECTING POOL (18th - 19th century - 1701 AD to 1900 AD)
• WATER FEATURE (18th century to Late 20th century - 1701 AD to 2000 AD)
• CASCADE (18th century - 1733 AD? to 1750 AD)

Full Description

An Ornamental Canal and cascade lay opposite the south front of Shaw House. The canal was first recorded on a 1730 map of the manor and was partially levelled during the construction of the A34 in the 1970s <1>.

The 1730 map of Speen Manor <2> shows two parallel narrow canals laid out at right angles to the south bank of the River Lambourn opposite the south front of the house. In 1733 John Hore, the local canal engineer, was employed by Lord Chandos to enlarge the canals to form a single broad canal with a new wide semi-circular basin scooped out of the north bank of the River with a cascade and complemented by formal tree planting <3>. The semi circular basin and aligned rectangular canal can be seen on the Ordnance Survey Drawing <4> and early Ordnance Survey mapping. On the First Edition Ordnance Survey map <5> the canal is marked as a fishpond.

These features largely survived until the construction of the adjacent A34 dual carriageway in the 1970s, when the southern end of the canal was filled and levelled <6>. The northern end survives as a slight depression and the cascade can be discerned in the adjacent river bank.

Sources and further reading

Related Monuments

Associated Excavations and Fieldwork

If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.