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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.



HER Number MWB16177
Record Type Monument
Name Benham Deer Park

Grid Reference SU 439 675
Map Sheet SU46NW
Parish Speen, West Berkshire
Map:Show location on Streetmap

Summary

Documentary evidence for a deer park in the manor of William de Hastings in 1349

Associated Legal Designations or Protected Status

  • Conservation Area: Benham Park
  • Registered Park or Garden (II) 1000173: Benham Park

Monument Type(s):

  • DEER PARK (14th century to 16th century - 1349 AD to 1600 AD?)

Full Description

A park with deer was included in the manor of William de Hastings at Benham in 1349 <1>. Saxton's map <2> marks a park in Benham close to the river, but this may represent Shaw park <1>. The GIS point for this park is within Benham Park but is approximate.

No mention is made of a possible deer park background in the description of Benham Park as a Registered Park <4>. However a small area of the designed landscape to the northeast of the main house appears to have been used for deer in the 20th century as it is marked on the 3rd Epoch Ordnance Survey mapping <5>.

Sources and further reading

<01>Berkshire Archaeological Society. 1979-80. Berkshire Archaeological Journal 1979-80 70. 70. In ADS Journals. 10.5284/1000017. p67-79 The Medieval Parks of Berkshire by J M Catherly and L M Cantor. [Article in serial / SWB6837]
http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archives/view/berks_bas_2007/journal.cfm?volume=70 (Accessed 07/09/2016)
<02>1574. Saxton's map of Berkshire. probably not marked. [Map / SWB14204]
https://www.hungerfordvirtualmuseum.co.uk/index.php/13-archives/837-maps-and-charts (Accessed 29/06/2021 - NB this map is dated 1636)
<03>Money, W. 1892. The History of Speen. p25. [Monograph / SWB11824]
<04>Historic England (previously English Heritage). 1987. Register of Parks and Gardens of special historic interest in England. Benham Park - Not mentioned. [Unpublished document / SWB12616]
<05>Landmark. 1912-24. Digital Ordnance Survey Mapping Epoch 3, 1:2500 (25 inch). Digital. 25 inches to a mile. Marked 'Deer Park'. [Map / SWB14456]

Related Monuments

MWB16432Benham (settlement) (Place)
MWB6280Benham Park (Park), Speen (Landscape)

Associated Excavations and Fieldwork

  • None recorded