More information : Two fishponds and some boundary banks were seen as earthworks to
the south of the motte and bailey at Castle Bytham, to which they
may be related. The earthworks were first described as part of the
Castle Bytham record - SK 91 NE/2.
A Medieval or post-Medieval fishpond was seen as a rectangular
embanked enclosure (centred at SK 9906 1841), 42m by 28m with a long
mound (30m) in its centre, assumed to be a fishery mound. To the
north west and south west of this fishpond are two parallel banks
considered to be Medieval or post-Medieval boundaries of some sort.
They are centred at SK 9903 1845 and SK 9901 1839 and are 45m and
90m long respectively. To the east of these is a very large,
embanked, "L-shaped" enclosure (370m by 90m) considered to be a
Medieval or post-Medieval fishpond (centred at SK 9934 1835). The
southernmost bank (centred at SK 9939 1822) is more substantial and
has a gap in it presumably representing a dam with a run-off channel.
(Morph Nos. LI.781.7.1, 7.2, 8.1 and 9.1)
This description is based on data from the RCHME MORPH2 database.
(1)
A brief field examination of the fishponds described by authority 1
revealed that they are still in excellent condition. The fishpond
at SK 9906 1841 is considered to be a carp pond (2a) with the mound
in the centre being indicative of carp rearing and not representing a
fishery mound as previously thought. The L-shaped pond is very well
preserved and the dam and run-off channel can still be clearly seen.
(2) |