Monument record 1404/6/0 - Medieval Deer Park at Alderley

Please read our .

Summary

Although there is no record of the licence to create the deer park, it is mentioned in documents dating from 1390. With the adjoining lands of Ravenhurst, it formed part of the ancient estate of the Alderleys. It is assumed to be the precursor to the landscape park (CHER 1405/6/0). Deer Parks were used to house deer, which were an important source of fresh meat. A royal licence was required to create a park and only the very wealthiest could afford to create one. The deer were kept in a fenced and ditched enclosure and could be released to allow hunting. Some parks had a system of ditches and banks known as deer leaps which allowed wild deer (the monarch's property) to enter the park but not escape, so increasing the herd. Deer Parks were expensive to maintain and many were disparked from the 15th to the 17th centuries. Those that were retained reinforced the high status of their owners. The widespread park landscaping of the 18th century often incorporated surviving deer parks. These new gardens were a contrast to the formal gardens of previous centuries with their carefully designed "natural" appearance.

Map

Find a placename, postcode or grid reference

Map layers

Base layers

Info

Record list

Tools

Type and Period (1)

Full Description

<1> Harrison, W, 1902, Ancient Forests, Chases and Deer Parks in Cheshire, p.26 (Article in Journal). SCH7172.

Although there is no record of the licence to impark, a deer park is known to have been in existence by 1423.

<2> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, Vol. III p.567 (Book). SCH1389.

Another portion of the hill (Alderley Edge) formed part of the ancient estate of the Alderleys and with the adjoining lands of Ravenhurst passed to the heiress of the Actons. A park of the Ardernes bounded one side of this property.

<3> Shirley, E P, 1867, Some account of English deer parks, with notes on the management of deer, p.207 (Book). SCH1108.

There were deer at one time at Alderley, as The Park House is mentioned, but there were none by 1867.

<4> Earwaker, J P, 1877-1880, East Cheshire Past & Present, p.608-9 (Book). SCH1080.

Cheshire Recognizance Rills make reference in 1390 to "...lands in Over Alderley 'lying near the park of the lords of Alderley', which were called Ravenshurst..."

<5> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, Edwards, R 19/07/2013 (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

It is assumed to be the precursor to the landscape park (CHER 1405/6/0).

<6> See map for surveyor, c.1837-51, Cheshire Tithe Maps and Awards, EDT 179/3 (Maps and Plans). SCH3266.

Parkland features visible and some plots have 'park' as an element of the plot name. It is possible that these derive from the Deer Park .

Sources/Archives (6)

  • <1> Article in Journal: Harrison, W. 1902. Ancient Forests, Chases and Deer Parks in Cheshire. Transactions of the Lancashire and Cheshire Antiquarian Society. 20. p.26.
  • <2> Book: Ormerod, G.. 1882. The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester. Vol. III p.567.
  • <3> Book: Shirley, E P. 1867. Some account of English deer parks, with notes on the management of deer. p.207.
  • <4> Book: Earwaker, J P. 1877-1880. East Cheshire Past & Present. p.608-9.
  • <5> Oral Communication: Various. Various. Oral communication to the HER. Edwards, R 19/07/2013.
  • <6> Maps and Plans: See map for surveyor. c.1837-51. Cheshire Tithe Maps and Awards. EDT 179/3.

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (1)

External Links (0)

Location

Grid reference SJ 84 75 (point) Approximate Position
Map sheet SJ87NW
Civil Parish NETHER ALDERLEY, MACCLESFIELD, CHESHIRE EAST
Historic Township/Parish/County NETHER ALDERLEY, ALDERLEY, CHESHIRE

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Record last edited

Aug 19 2020 2:26PM