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) |