Monument record MDO4621 - Abbey fishponds south of Layton Lane, Shaftesbury

(ST 86412266) Abbey Ponds (NR). <2>

There was an outer park of the Abbey, in which the remains of fishponds are still visible. Described as 'Abbey Ponds' and depicted as shown on OS 25".) <1>

'A' - ST 86402266. 'B' - ST 86432266. 'C' - ST 86442268.

Three rectangular ponds orientated NNE-SSW on land which falls gently to the west.

A- has average measurements of 38.0 x 24.0m. X 0.8m. Deep and is separated from B by a north-south bank 5.0m. Wide.

B - has average measurements of 30.0 x 18.0m x 0.5m. Deep and is to the east of A.

C - is to the north of B and is separated from it by a bank 7.0m. Wide. It has average measurements of 19.0 x 16.0m. X 0.3m. Deep.

There is an artificially levelled strip of ground 7.0m. Wide to the east of B and C. In the field to the north there are vague and unsurveyable traces of further depressions which were possibly ponds. The field is under rough pasture.

The ponds were dry and grass covered when investigated and no trace was found of a stream or water course by which the ponds were presumably fed. <4>

ST 864226. Abbey Ponds, now dry, are the remains of fishponds belonging to the nunnery which were in use in the mid 16th century (a). The earthworks comprise two depressions, roughly rectangular and 2 to 3 1/2ft deep lying side by side; immediately north of the east depression and joined to it by a narrow channel is a third depression, smaller and roughly square. Plan. <5>

ST 864226. Two rectangular fishponds south of Layton Lane Scheduled. The banks survive in good condition and are under grass. Visited 25.4.77. <6>

<1> Hutchins, J R, 1803, The History and Antiquities of The County of Dorset Volume 2. 2nd edition, p38, opp p391 (Monograph). SDO18013.

<1.1> UpJohn, J, 1799, Upjohns Plan of Shaftesbury (Map). SDO19104.

<2> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey 25 inch scale map, 1929 (Map). SDO18020.

<3> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1950, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1949, 67 (Serial). SDO49.

‘Shaftestbury (St. Peter), Layton House; O.S. 1-in. 864227. Mr. N. Teulon Porter reports that since 1946 surface finds of Romano-British, mediaeval and later pottery, etc., have been made in the area now used as market gardens west of the Abbey Stew Ponds and S.S.E. of Layton House. The site is marked on O.S. 6-in (Dorset) Sheet IV S.W. in D.C.M.’

<4> Edwards, D W, Field Investigator's Comments DE, F1 DE 27-JAN-56 (Unpublished document). SDO18341.

<5> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1972, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume IV (North), 76, No 143 (Monograph). SDO99.

‘(143) ABBEY PONDS (864226). Near the head of a wide valley, 320yds. S.E. of (1), are the remains of fishponds belonging to the nunnery; they are now dry, but in the middle of the 16th century they were repleta cum piscibus vocatus carpes et tenches (Stratton, op. cit., 504). The earthworks comprise two depressions, roughly rectangular and 2 ft. to 3½ ft. deep, lying side by side; immediately N. of the E. depression and joined to it by a narrow channel is a third depression, smaller and roughly square. Mediaeval and later pottery and other objects, found immediately W. of the depressions, are preserved in the Shaftesbury Museum (Dorset Procs., 71 (1949), 67).’

<5.1> Straton, C R, 1909, Survey of the lands of William first Earl of Pembroke. Transcribed from vellum rolls in the posession of the Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery (Monograph). SDO18626.

<6> Department of the Environment, DOE (IAM) Ancient Monuments Record Form, 13.5.77 (Index). SDO17347.

<7> Historic England, Historic England Archive, 884023 (Index). SDO14738.

Object Title: Shaftesbury Abbey Ponds/survey. Scope & Content: Fieldwork survey of earthworks. Bibliographic References: 1) Monument No.143. Survey replicated on page 76.

<8> Historic England, Historic England Archive, BB69/01706 (Index). SDO14738.

Object Title: PLAN OF FISHPONDS - ONCE BELONGED TO THE NUNNERY IN USE IN MID C16 BUT ARE NOW DRY.

<9> Historic England, Historic England Archive, RCH01/097 (Index). SDO14738.

Object Title: Inventory: Dorset IV (North).
Scope & Content: The collection contains original material and publication proofs relating to the RCHME Inventory for Dorset, Volume IV, 1972. The material includes field notes, surveys and excavation notes.

<10> National Record of the Historic Environment, 206570 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jun 27 2023 2:55PM