More information : TF 1891 6194 (GCE). A complex of seven fishponds occupies a very slight side valley draining west towards the River Witham immediately north of the main precinct of Kirkstead Abbey (TF 16 SE 4). The ponds were previously recorded as part of TF 16 SE 4, and surveyed at 1:2500 (1a). It is possible that this complex is the vivarium referred to in the vicinity of Kirkstead Abbey in a charter dated to 1196 x 8 (1b).
The complex is now split between two modern pasture fields within the sharp angle in the course of Abbey Lane. The ponds all lie parallel to one another at regular intervals 7m-10m apart. They increase in length from south to north from c74m upto c122m, but, with the exception of the northernmost pond which tapers from 20m wide in the west to 14m in the east and is only 0.8m deep, are all of the same width and depth, namely 8m and 1.5m respectively. All the ponds are reasonably well-preserved, although a modern hedgeline that runs down the centre of the third pond from the north and divides the complex between two ownerships has caused that pond's southern face to become spread. The ponds all open out towards the west into a narrow channel 4m-5m wide that runs from south to north parallel to a far more substantial channel down the western edge of the two fields. Unlike the other six, the wide, northernmost, pond is not fully open to the west but instead empties out through a gap in its south-west corner. Although no surface evidence survives it is likely that the ponds were originally separated from the first channel by wooden sluices. Breaches in the narrow bank separating the two channels have been made opposite the ends of the southernmost three ponds, probably to improve modern drainage. The bank now dies out completely opposite the middle pond, but resumes as a very slight feature in the northern field and perhaps originally continued as far as the gap in the corner of the northernmost pond. The major channel to the west is in places upto 16m wide and c1.5m deep. In size and form it is comparable to the moat around the abbey precinct (TF 16 SE 4) to the south to which it was probably connected: in the south-west corner of the site the embankment for Abbey Lane visibly overlies the channel. To the north the channel dies out opposite the northernmost ponds. Its west side is here graded to allow access into the modern field from Abbey Lane, and other scarps in the west end of this field seem to have been graded also.
During field survey patterns of differential crop ripening suggestive from ground level of two, additional, ploughed-out ponds were noticed in the small arable field to the north behind Oak Leigh house.
East and south of the ponds lie a complex series of narrow channels mostly 6m-7m wide and of V-profile, probably in part to do with the supply of water to the ponds and in part later field boundaries. Other features further east still within the two modern pasture fields include ridge and furrow, other relict field boundaries, and a disused track (TF 16 SE 21): these are all probably post medieval.
All earthworks were surveyed at 1:1000 scale by RCHME as part of the survey of Kirkstead Abbey.
A possible fishpond is visible on 1971 APs as a cropmark in the arable field behind Oak Leigh. A slight scarp running parallel to the southern boundary of the field may be part of the other side of this pond, bisected by the field boundary.
The AP report, and transcriptions at 1:1000 scale, were undertaken in response to observations made during the RCHME field survey of Kirkstead Abbey, and are held in the NMR as part of that project's archive. (1)
The fishponds have also been mapped at 1:10,000 scale as part of the RCHME: Lincolnshire NMP. (Morph No. LI.468.2.18-19) (2) |