Healaugh Park and Manor

Following the Dissolution of the monasteries the priory buildings were converted to an Elizabethan manor house, Healaugh Manor. A small moated enclosure, containing the remains of a building, with sixteenth century pottery finds, may have been a hunting lodge, associated with the deer park. Within the park lay the site of an Augustinian priory, Healaugh Park Priory, which has evidence of a surrounding precinct wall that may have enclosed gardens. During this second phase of development the house was surrounded by orchards and gardens contained within an ornamental moat.

The wider deer park was also reshaped at this time to create a smaller parkland enclosed by a park pale bank and ditch. The third phase in the late seventeenth century saw the creation of more elaborate garden features, as an axial walk and tree avenue, terminating in a half-moon, were laid out. New orchards and lodges enhanced the surrounding small parkland, Knitter Park.

The Wharton family were lords of the manor of Healaugh from the mid sixteenth to early eighteenth centuries and then the Brooksbank family owned the estate till the mid twentieth centuries. Parts of the demolished priory and manor house survive incorporated within a complex of later farm buildings, Healaugh Manor Farm, some of which are listed Grade II and II*. Excavation and geophysical survey has revealed buried remains of buildings and structures with depths of undisturbed deposits, which may have potential for preserving elements of the medieval monastic garden and Elizabethan garden.

4.1 LOCATION

The former site of Healaugh Manor and former priory, currently the site of several buildings, including East Manor Farm and West Manor Farm, is centred at SE 4857 4634, 2.9 kilometres to the north of Tadcaster and the River Wharfe. The garden features and small parkland associated with it lies to the south, centred at SE 486459. These were encompassed within a wider parkland and deer park, centred at SE 488466.

4.2 AREA

The extent of the medieval deer park is unknown. The extent of the probable sixteenth century parkland as depicted in 1636 is 240 hectares. The area of the moated enclosure containing Healaugh Manor, its gardens, orchards and Knitter Park, as depicted in 1718 is 117 hectares.

4.3 BOUNDARIES

The boundaries and full extent of the medieval deerpark is unknown. The boundary and extent of the post medieval parkland ‘Helaugh Parke’ is depicted in 1636. It ran from the western edge of Shire Oaks woodland north along the current parish boundary between Wighill and Healaugh civil parishes. It turned northeast towards Foss Bridge and east to Dews Wood (formerly Healaugh Spring), then south to meet The Foss. It followed this watercourse, then turned southwest to complete the circuit at Shire Oaks. Large parts of the parkland bank and ditch boundary have been levelled and only small lengths survive as earthworks.

The late-seventeenth century parkland is no longer extant. Its probable extent coincided in parts with the deer park boundary running along the west side of Knitter Park from Shire Oaks. Similarly on the eastern side The Foss formed the boundary of Mannor Plain and Lodge Plain. The southern boundary, formerly fringed by Horse Wood and Rath, has been removed and not visible above ground in the landscape today across arable fields. The northern boundary alignment is followed in parts by field boundaries.

4.4 LANDFORM

The site of Healaugh Manor and the former priory is at 16 metres OD. The underlying geology is sandstone (Sherwood Sandstone Group) with overlying glacial till deposits of clay, sand and gravel (Vale of York Formation), creating gently undulating topography and hummocky terrain (British Geological Survey 2016). The loamy and clayey soils are seasonally wet, some with impeded drainage (Number 18 Soilscape: Cranfield University 2016). The Foss, Catterton Beck and numerous other watercourses and drains divide the landscape.

4.5 SETTING

The immediate environs of the former manor house site is flat terrain with expansive views to the skyline across the former parkland. Occasional areas of woodland punctuate the skyline.

Current land use is farmland, enclosed by hedgerows, predominately arable with some pasture. Mature trees, such as oak, survive across the landscape along the hedgerow lines. There are small areas of mixed plantation and some ancient woodland. Shire Oaks (SE 482454) is identified as an important area for conservation in Selby District Local Plan (2005, 249), along with areas of marsh, Healaugh Priory Marsh (SE 487466), Healaugh Marsh (SE 492470) and a field north of Healaugh Manor Farm (SE 482468). The area falls within Selby District Local Landscape Character Area: The York Fringe, Type: Flat Wooded Farmland (Wollerton Dodworth Associates, 1999, fig. 2, p15).

4.6 ENTRANCES AND APPROACHES

Before the parkland was laid out, the 1636 map (WYAS WYL68/62) shows a funnel entrance leading from ‘Shire Oakes Plaine’ approaching from the west to the south side of the house. There is no approach from the east depicted on the map, but probably existed as a road linking the former monastic site to Healaugh village, which lies to the northeast, is documented in 1223 (Purvis 1936, 7)

By 1718 (WYAS WYL68/63), when Knitter Park is established, a straight carriageway extended north- south, meeting a road from Tadcaster at its southern boundary. At its northern end the carriageway joined another track from the west, then continued northeast to pass on the south side of the house. A second approach from Healaugh village is also shown, extending across ‘Strait Piece’ and ‘Mannor Plain’, to reach the south front of the house. A building depicted along this route to the east of the house at SE 4874 4639 on the 1718 map (Figure 4a) may have served as stables, as it was adjacent to fields named ‘Stables Rash’ and ‘Stable Lawnes’ in the 1636. The building is now demolished.

4.7 PRINCIPAL BUILDINGS

The buildings located at the site of the manor house and former priory are variously named and documented. Early accounts of 1635 refer to the building as a ‘capitall mesuage’ or ‘mannor house’ (WYAS WYL68/74/8). The 1636 map labels it ‘Helaugh house’. It is only in its later history, as the house converts to a farm, that in 1782 the buildings acquire the name ‘Healaugh Manor’ (WYAS WYL68/74/53b). Francis White’s 1785 map also confirms that name, but by 1790 it is recorded (WYAS WYL68/8) as ‘Old Manor Farm’. By 1888 the farm splits into ‘Healaugh Manor West’ and ‘Healaugh Manor East’ (WYAS WYL68/20). Some buildings within the complex, which have an earlier origin, are listed on the National Heritage List for England (NHLE) and have a photographic archive record held by Historic England Archive (Ref: BF095581).

The Elizabethan manor house incorporated remains of the medieval Augustinian priory and we have some hints as to its form and size as it is depicted on early maps. The 1636 (WYAS WYL68/62) map shows three sides of a building open on the south side. Attached on its northern side is a smaller range of buildings also arranged on three sides, thus forming an enclosed courtyard.

Judging by the hearth tax of 1672, which records 28 hearths for the ‘The Lord Wharton’, it was a house of considerable size. The 1718 map also shows three sides, open on the south side, as similarly depicted on Francis White’s 1785 map. Warburton’s 1720 map shows a front elevation with prominent east and west wings and a range between, but by this time is described as ‘Helah mannor ruins’.

An inventory of the house following the death of Sir Thomas, Lord Wharton, First Baron, in 1568, provides some hints of what the manor house was like, describing at least nineteen rooms and other out buildings. Evans (1945, 137) describes it thus:

It contained five living rooms, a hall, with a removable iron chimney flue for the fire; a dining chamber at the hall’s end, an outer great chamber and inner one; and the low parlour. For bedrooms there was my lord’s bedchamber, with dining room leading out of it, presumably an arrangement made in his invalid days; a great chamber, a third where my lord now lieth; my lady’s closet and various lesser rooms, a little one for an attendant by Lady Wharton’s room out of it, and the chamber at the stair-head a kitchen, brew house, back kitchen, store house and granaries.

The manor house was largely demolished and stone reused elsewhere, but parts survive incorporated within subsequent buildings of Healaugh Manor Farm complex. Three detached ranges retain architectural features dating from the late fourteenth century with alterations through to the twentieth century (NHRE: 54769, North Yorkshire Historic Environment Record (NYHER): SMR MNY30940). During his 1816 tour of Yorkshire W. M. J. Turner sketched the remains of the house named Healaugh Priory and the barn, showing architectural details and their setting within a group of mature trees (Hill 2008).
Some monitoring, test pits and geophysical survey undertaken during renovation of farm buildings within the moated enclosure, revealed evidence of earlier structures and building foundations of both brick and stone (Northern Archaeological Association 1997, 1998, 2008). Interpretation and discussion focused entirely on matching these to the possible plan of the former medieval priory buildings, but some may have also been part of the later manor house, which was not considered.
4.7.1 Healaugh Priory (NHLE: 1316677, Grade II*)
Healaugh Priory (formerly known as Manor Farm East) at SE 4857 4634, aligns north-south, is now a two-storey ashlar house. It incorporates a range of the priory circa 1150-1200, altered circa 1540 or later and appears to be the surviving east range of the sixteenth century Elizabethan manor. It has a battlemented parapet surviving on the west front.
4.7.2 Healaugh Manor West (NHLE: 1132458, Grade II)
Healaugh Manor West at SE 4851 4631, aligns east-west, is a brick built mid-nineteenth century house with twentieth century additions. It includes reused stonework from the priory buildings, runic fragments and medieval objects. Pevsner (1974, 258) describes fifteenth century or Tudor windows.
4.7.3 Barn to Healaugh Manor West (NHLE: 1316676, Grade II)
A stone and brick building at SE 4853 4632 used as a barn, nineteenth century, reusing earlier materials with an added twentieth century range.
4.7.4 Pigeoncote (NHLE: 1132459, Grade II)
Pigeoncote at SE 4859 4634 is eighteenth century with probable earlier origins, constructed of Magnesian Limestone and hand-made, narrow orange brick and pinkish-brown brick with pantile roof. Interior has brick nesting boxes.
4.7.5 Lodges
The 1718 map (WYAS WYL 68/63) shows three buildings within the parkland that are possibly parker’s or gamekeeper’s lodges rather than entrance lodges, as they lie southeast of the house and have no significant tracks linking them to the house. One building is within the centre of ‘Lodge Plaine’ and another two further north are depicted within woodland named ‘New Lodge Orchard’. ‘Lodge Plaine’ was formerly ‘Lodge Leyes’ on the 1636 map, suggesting a lodge existed there at this early date too. The central building is not depicted on subsequent maps, but Francis White’s 1785 map still shows those in the orchard labelled as lodge, but by 1790 (WYAS WYL68/66) the orchard is shown, but with no buildings within it.
A further building is significant as it may be a hunting lodge associated with the medieval deer park (NHRE: 54720). It lays 920 metres east of Healaugh Manor within a moated enclosure, which abuts the outside of the post medieval deer park boundary. The 1636 and 1718 maps name fields as ‘Old Lodge Lawne’ and ‘Old Lodge Garth’ respectively, flanking the deer park boundary. The 1849 Ordnance Survey map shows a small moated enclosure at SE 4947 4656 with two irregular shaped ponds surrounded by trees but by 1894 they become a single rectangular pond. Foundations of a rectangular building measuring 11 by 5.5 metres were recorded and sixteenth century pottery and tile fragments recovered. Tracks converge on the site, which remain footpaths today. The moat earthworks were visible on aerial photographs taken in 1963 and 1975 and by 1985 Field Investigators recorded it as levelled (NHRE: 54720). However, recent satellite images (Google Earth image accessed 18 July 2016) show evidence of wet ditches on two sides and a substantial internal bank surviving as earthworks.
4.8 GARDENS
4.8.1 Moat
The site of Healaugh Manor lies within a moat, enclosing an area of approximately 2.5 hectares (6 acres) by a ditch on three sides, but open to the south where the road crosses in front of it. It is surveyed at 1:2500 and the moat ditch survives as an earthwork, recorded at depths of one metre in 1961 (NHRE: 54769, NYHER SMR: MNY17006). The western side has an entrance gap and the northern side has a second outer ditch along part of its length, enlarged in parts to form a fishpond. A moat of this neat rectilinear form would be ornamental, but the moat ditch would also provide a practical function, by aiding drainage of the heavy soils and creating a dryer raised platform for the buildings.
The date of the moat is uncertain. It may have been first constructed in the medieval period, enclosing the former Augustinian priory buildings. The occurrence of moats at Augustinian priories is found at other sites in England, but many similarly have post dissolution houses associated with them (E.g. Wymondley Priory, Hertfordshire, NRHE: 365124 and 365129.) The moat at Healaugh Priory is not mentioned in contemporary medieval documentary sources, therefore may be of post medieval construction, although remodelling an earlier moat as a later garden feature cannot be ruled out (Northern Archaeological Associates 2008, 3). The depiction on the 1636 map with a double line suggests it is in existence then. By 1718 the western side has developed an angled bend so perhaps remodelled and recut by this time.
4.8.2 Gardens and Orchards
The earliest depiction on the 1636 map, labels ‘Healaugh house’ with ‘The Garden’ on its east side within a moated enclosure. By 1718 its depiction changes and a larger area north and east of the house is labelled ‘Orchard’. These are divided into two and the smaller one to the northwest is shaded green. This distinction may reflect that the two areas were planted and used in different ways, perhaps the eastern one being retained as a garden. Outside the moat, a further regular planting of trees depicted on its western side in 1718 may also be an orchard. It becomes a larger area of woodland on Francis White’s 1785 map.
Following its conversion to a farm in 1790 the orchard inside the moat was described as ‘Old Manor Orchard’ measuring three acres (WYAS WYL 68/8) and by 1843 part was under grass (WYAS WYL68/14). The orchard within the moat continues to be depicted on subsequent editions of Ordnance Survey maps through to 1953.

A brick perimeter garden wall surrounds the inside of the moated enclosure. An evaluation undertaken during renovations shows a number of phases and methods of construction and evidence of two different alignments. The wall is made of high quality brick and constructed using combinations of Herringbone Bond, English Bond and English Garden Bond, suggesting an eighteenth century date or earlier. However, the brick wall had limestone foundations beneath it. The quality of the dressed stone suggests these earlier phases may be contemporary with the medieval priory forming an enclosed precinct boundary wall (Northern Archaeological Associates 1998, 4; 2008, 12). Whether the stone wall was still extant, enclosing the post dissolution gardens is uncertain. Gun loops are incorporated into parts of the brick wall and may relate to an unrecorded use of the site during the English Civil War (ibid. 1998, 5, plate 9; 2008, 12).

Investigations within the former kitchen garden of the farm revealed earlier phases of building constructed of dressed Magnesian Limestone blocks. Along the current northern kitchen garden wall there were foundations of an earlier wall and a plinth for a gate pier (Northern Archaeological Associates 2008, 5). The potential for these to be part of the earlier manor house and associated garden features of the sixteenth or seventeenth centuries should not be overlooked.

Within the moated enclosure there were disturbed deposits up to 0.75 metres deep, with potential for preservation of archaeological deposits below that depth. It is therefore possible that features associated with the medieval monastic garden and later phases of post medieval garden may survive. No palaeoenvironmental samples were taken during the archaeological evaluations (Northern Archaeological Associates 1998, 4).

An enclosure abutting the east side of the moat is named ‘Carter Close’ in 1636. By 1718 it becomes a smaller (4 hectares or 1 acre) detached enclosure, ‘Cater Garth’ enclosed by trees and may have been an orchard or garden, providing a secluded and sheltered area. Its size increases by 1790 (WYAS WYL68/66) and the 1849 Ordnance Survey map depicts it as woodland named ‘Manor Wood’. In 1843 (WYAS WYL68/43) a very small area (17 perches) of woodland is described as ‘Nursery adjoining Manor Wood’, supports the idea of this being a sheltered location used at that time for raising young trees.

Larger areas of orchard lie within the parkland with ‘New Lodge Orchard’ (1.1 hectares/ 2.7 acres) named on the 1718 map (see also 4.6). By 1787 (WYAS WYL68/7) the poor condition of the orchard is described as ‘fruit trees are few, old and of little profit’. ‘New Orchard’ (0.9 hectares/ 2.3 acres) appears on the 1790 map adjoining the western side of the tree avenue. Its decline is noted by 1843 (WYAS WYL68/14) when it is described as under ‘grafs’ (grass) and the 1849 Ordnance Survey map only depicts a few trees forming a small group in its southern part.

4.8.3 Walk
A tree lined walk depicted on the 1718 map extends from the south side of the house across the parkland, orientated SSE, although its axis is not exactly aligned with the quadrangular building layout. It is 70 metres wide and 660 metres long and depicted with a double row avenue of trees. Attached on it northern side is a semi-circular area named ‘Half Moon’, also planted with a double row of trees along its southern arc, with a gap to allow views from the house. Construction of these garden features probably dates between 1673 and 1696, created by Thomas Wharton, Fifth Lord Wharton (see 3.3). The 1636 map has no evidence of them and they were laid out on top of earthworks of former open fields of medieval ridge and furrow with substantial headland banks running obliquely across the avenue and walk. The first recorded depiction is on the 1718 map. By 1790 the avenue becomes divided into ‘Walk’ and ‘Little Walk’, the latter towards its southern end. By 1843 (WYAS WYL68/14) these former garden areas of ‘Half Moon’ and ‘The Walk’ are rented out and recorded as ‘grafs’ (grass). The 1849 Ordnance Survey map labels the entire avenue as ‘The Long Walk’. Recent aerial images (Google Earth, accessed 18 July 2016) show that the tree avenue and part of the arc of Half-Moon have been totally replanted with a double row of oak trees, which replaces the few older oak trees that remained, but are now removed.
The trees along the avenue and round the curve of the arc of Half-Moon were planted on top a banks, which were visible on aerial photographs taken in 1967 (NRHE: 1191646). Field Investigators observations, recorded in 1961 on an antiquity model diagram (NRHE: 54769), notes earthworks of a bank 3 metres wide and 0.4 metres high, with traces of a shallow external ditch 4 metres wide along the arc on the western side of Half-Moon. Although at that time these were interpreted as a possible continuation of the moat, it is more likely to be part of the construction for the semi-circular platform. By 1790 a small irregular shaped pond is shown in one corner, possibly designed to aid drainage of the moat.

The original design with trees planted on top of banks would have afforded a dry and shady walk. These garden features have parallels in other late seventeenth century gardens. A print circa 1700 by Knyff and Kip (1707) shows a similar wide walk at Londesborough Hall. It also has a semi-circular area in front of the house terrace, forming a grassy slope down to a tree avenue, flanked by single trees, extending for 700 metres southeast across the parkland. At Londesborough the single tree avenue develops into a more elaborate patte d’oie (radiating avenues in the shape of a goose foot), but there is no evidence of this pattern at Healaugh. Other contemporary examples at Hampton Court show the flat semi-circular area (310m x 190m) as an elaborate parterre with a fountain (Kynff and Kip 1707). The one at Healaugh is similarly flat, but much smaller (150m x 80m), and it is uncertain whether it was grass or a planted garden.

4.9 PARK AND PLANTATIONS
4.9.1 Deer park
Just south of Healaugh Manor the 1849 Ordnance Survey map names Healaugh Park, recorded as a deer park (NHRE: 54802, NYHER SMR: MNY17020). From the evidence we have the deer park seems to have had at least two phases of development. There is substantial documentary evidence for ‘Helegh Park’ medieval deer park, but the date when it was first established is uncertain. In 1635 ‘Helaugh Parke’ is documented (WYAS WYL68/74/6A) and mapped in 1636 (WYAS WYL68/62), but this parkland appears to be smaller than the medieval deer park and was probably laid out post dissolution in the mid to late sixteenth century. There is evidence for this post medieval deer park continuing in use to 1707 and it was possibly maintained until 1711. Parts of its park pale boundary bank and ditch still survive as earthworks.

The Augustinian Priory of Healaugh Park was given land within the medieval deer park and in 1227 they were given ‘Protection by the King for the prior and canons of Helagh Park, their men and lands’ (CPR: Henry III, Vol. 2, 1225-1232, p173). Their land was contained within a ditched enclosure where they were given rights, but they also had restrictions outside in the wider deer park (Purvis 1936, 7 & 8). In 1311 there was a ‘grant by the King to the prior and convent of Helagh Park of free Warren in all their demesne lands of Helagh....’ (Purvis 1936, 118). This ‘free warren’ would allow them to hunt small game, or even roe deer (Mileson 1978, 4).

Outside the monastic land holdings the deer park continued to function and be used by lords of the manor. On 20 October 1298 William le Vavassour petitioned the king in respect of men who ‘broke his park and hunted therein and carried away deer.........The like to the same touching the persons who broke his park at Helewe, co. York.’ (CPR: Edward I, vol. III, 1292-1301 p383).

In 1351 there is a complaint by Alice, late wife of Stephen Waleys that ‘some evildoers broke her parks and entered her free chaces at Helagh and Cottyngley, co. York, hunted in these, and carried away deer from the parks, and hares, rabbits, pheasants and partridges’ (CPR: Edward III, vol. 9, 1350-1345, p78). It is interesting to note that areas of ‘free chases’ existed here, as these may have been outside the enclosed deer park boundaries, intermingled with settlement and farms (Jones 1993).

In 1405 Robert de Waterton requested grant for life ‘the offices of steward and master forester of the parks and forest of Spofforth and Healaugh with accustomed fees and wages’ (CPR: Henry IV, vol. III, 1405-1408 p73). The Earl of Northumberland house book in 1512 records 319 red and fallow deer within the park (Shirley 1867, 218).

Leland’s observations circa 1538 describes the park:

From Helegh Priory, scant a mile to Helege village, there I saw great ruines of an auncient Manor Place of Stone that longgid with the fair Woddid Park therby to the Erle of Northumberland (Toulmin-Smith 1907, 44).

Saxton’s 1577 map provides evidence of the broad shape and location of the post medieval park. It depicts a curvilinear fenced enclosure named Healygh positioned to the south of Healigh (Healaugh) village. It is subsequently more clearly shown on maps by John Speed’s (1610) and Willem and Jan Bleau (1645) with a house symbol within the enclosure.

The memoranda on the margins of the 1636 map names ‘Helaugh Parke’ and ‘Catterton Parke’ and depicts them as two distinct areas on the map enclosed with a fenced symbol. It is debatable whether such a fenced symbol represents a deer park pale boundary, or just defining an area of parkland. In the context of Helaugh Parke it has been interpreted as the former, because of other supporting evidence, especially the extant remains of a park pale boundary bank and ditch, which encloses an area of 240 hectares.

In 1707 Lord Wharton’s Court Leet and Court Baron (WYAS WYL68/33) instructs the inhabitant of Healaugh and Catterton: ‘withes cut nor carry away any wood green or dry from my Lord’s Park.’ or they would incur a fine of 6s. This suggests the deer park was still in use at this time. But by 1720 Warburton’s map does not show any fenced enclosure. This demise of Helaugh Parke is illustrated on the 1718 and 1790 maps, which names an enclosure ‘Old Park’, previously in 1636 ‘Ralarke Nooke’.

There is further abundant place name evidence on the historic maps that includes ‘park’, which may indicate the extent of the medieval deer park. The 1636 map shows numerous enclosures outside the post medieval parkland boundary on its southeastern periphery named ‘Park Close’, which on later maps is divided into ‘Great Park Close’, ‘Near Park Close’ and ‘Far Park Close’. This suggests the medieval deer park was larger and had extended into these areas, or it simply signifies their close proximity to the parkland boundaries of both Helaugh Parke and Catterton Parke.
There are other place names outside the post medieval deer park boundary, which also seem to relate to deer park activities. The 1636 map has a curvilinear enclosure named ‘Old Lawnds at Parke Close’, which by 1718 (WYAS WYL68/3) is divided into ‘Far Lawne’ and ‘Lawns Pasture’. It possibly identifies the location of a ‘laund’ (grassy plain or pasture surrounded by trees). A ditch and live thicket fence associated with this area is being maintained in 1707 (WYAS WYL68/33). The Court Leet and Court Baron of Thomas Wharton records that ‘A pain laid of the occupier of the Lawns shall ditch the ditch, and twist the trees sown for Philip Acomb....’(WYAS WYL68/33). The area abuts Catterton Beck and the boundary of Catterton Parke, as marked on the 1636 map.

Additional place name evidence of ‘Catterton Gap’, ‘Deer Ing Gate’ and ‘Dearing Gate’ recorded on maps and in ledgers (WYAS WYL68/7) and ‘Stubbing Gate’ on the 1849 Ordnance Survey map, possibly indicate the position of leaps in the park pale boundary, which were designed to let deer into the park, but restrict their egress (Cooper 2014, 12). Although, ‘gates’ and ‘gaps’ may also relate to activities of common grazing and controlling movement of livestock other than deer.

The enclosing park pale boundary bank and ditch and thicket fence would have been a prominent feature in the landscape. We have evidence for the western course of the boundary on later Ordnance Survey maps. ‘The Keepers Walk’, suggests a parker or gamekeeper’s role to deter poachers, and is labelled on the 1849 map coinciding with the parish boundary between Healaugh and Wighill. Edward Brooksbank (WYAS WYL68/44) describes this western course extending from almost Shire Oaks northwards to Nova Scotia Wood and notes it is ‘where we still claim the land on the far side of the fence as far as deer could jump, which is called a deer’s loup’.

Ordnance Survey Field Investigators evaluated the survival of earthworks of the deer park boundary circuit in 1963 (NRHE: 54802, source 4). They followed the route of the mapped 1636 boundary and record the internal ditch and external bank one metre high in places and note where the earthworks were denuded, or levelled and not visible. Some parts of the bank, aligned in places along field boundaries (E.g. at SE 4927 4643), were clearly visible as earthworks in 2005 (Google Earth image accessed 19 July 2016). The extent of the ditched enclosure boundary surrounding the lands given to Healaugh Priory is not known, and it is possible parts of it may have been incorporated into this post medieval parkland boundary.

An additional bank and ditch extends northwards from Foss Bridge to Nova Scotia Wood (SE 486473 to SE479489), beyond the post medieval parkland boundary. The Ordnance Survey Investigators interpret is this as part of the park pale of an attached deer park, ‘Wighill Park’ (NHRE: 54794). Although, W & J Bleau’s map of 1645 shows this adjacent park as totally detached from Healaugh Park and named ‘Synnynthwate’. This northern section of park pale from Foss Bridge to Nova Scotia Wood may possibly be the remains of the medieval boundary of Healaugh Park.

There is a paucity of paleobotanical evidence in the area to enable any reconstruction of the nature of the landscape within the former deer park, which is likely to have been a mixture of grassland and woodland. Enclosure names of ‘Cony Garth Flatt’ on the 1636 map are evidence of rabbit warrens in the parkland. Aerial photographs (Google Earth 31 Dec 2005, accessed 19 July 2016) show there are relict watercourses across the parkland (E.g. at SE 4899 4611), which have the potential to retain waterlogged deposits for recovering data on past vegetation history. The landscape is now devoid of much woodland, but there are some surviving areas of ancient woodland and documentary evidence from the eighteenth century to suggest the variety of species (see 4.9.2).

4.9.2 Parkland
Healaugh Park is the name of the wider medieval deer park, which is redesigned post dissolution to create a smaller deer park and parkland as discussed in 4.9.1. However, by 1718 a much smaller area of parkland surrounding Healaugh Manor developed associated with the designed landscape of a half-moon, walk and tree avenue. ‘Knitter Park’ lies to the west of the walk containing a long drive, with ‘Lodge Plain’ and ‘Mannor Plain’ to the east and areas northeast of the manor house are also probably parkland areas.

The seventeenth century parkland does not have any distinct perimeter, shelterbelt plantations enclosing and defining it on contemporary or later maps. But we do have evidence of woodland bordering the parkland areas in places. On the southern boundary are Shire Oaks, Rath and Horse Wood. Two areas northwest of the house, named ‘Near Nand Hagg’ and ‘Far CCland’, suggests former areas of copse, which fringed the parkland setting.

The 1636 map shows that the parkland area formally had smaller enclosed fields and trackways, and aerial photographs show some areas contained medieval ridge and furrow ploughing (NRHE: 1191998). By 1716 (WYAS WYL68/2) the former parkland area had reverted back to its former state. A 1757 ledger (WYAS WYL68/4) records ‘Knitter Park’ and ‘Lodge Plain’ divided into smaller parts, under arable cultivation and ‘plowed’ (ploughed). The carriageway goes out of use and the sinuous trackway between the enclosures is reinstated by 1785, as shown on Francis White’s map and later maps. The 1849 Ordnance Survey maps do not stipple any areas, indicating it was not recognised as parkland then. Currently the former parkland areas are under arable cultivation.

4.9.3 Plantations and woodland
Today the heavy clayey and loamy soils do not support large areas of woodland, but there are a few small mixed woodland plantations. Some of the older boundaries retain mature trees, particularly oak and ash. There is evidence to suggest woodland was much more abundant in the medieval deer park. In 1201 Jordan de Sancta Maria and his wife Alice bought three hundred acres of woodland in ‘Helage Park’ (Speight 1902, 350-1). The most significant woodland is Shire Oaks (Shire Oakes in 1636) seen bordering the west of ‘Knitter Park’ on the 1718 map. The 1790 map shows it divided in two areas named ‘Shire Oaks’ and ‘Plain Part of Shire Oaks’ in the southern part. It is a prominent feature in the landscape, visible from the manor house site. The North Yorkshire County HLC (HNY5393) describes it as ancient semi-natural woodland, mainly dating before 1600, covering an area of 21.68 hectares/ 53.5 acres. Selby District Local Plan (2005, 249) lists the wood as important for nature conservation.

Place name evidence on the 1718 map, also suggests woodland was previously more abundant across the wider deer park. Field names include wood (E.g. ‘Horsewood Close’) and ‘hagg’ (E.g. Near Nand Hagg’). The latter are possibly former coppiced areas, which would have been an important part of the deer park landscape. ‘Stubbing’ names (E.g. Cork Stubbing) indicate cleared woodland with stumps remaining (Jones, 1993).

There are some hints as to the abundance, variety and decline of woodland in the wider manor of Healaugh and Catterton recorded in mid eighteenth century to early nineteenth century accounts, which overlaps with the areas of the deer park. An evaluation of timber in 1751 (WYAS WYL68/33) notes standing oak, ash and elm wood as 6042 trees, valued at £4671.18s.4d and divided into lots for sale. By 1782 (WYAS 68/78/53b) the number of oak, ash and elm trees was reduced to 3956. In 1843 (WYAS WYL68/14) only twelve areas of ‘woodlands in hand’ are named and cover 82 acres, 0 roods, 19 perches.

The variety of woodland resources is recorded in a letter of 1718 (WYAS WYL68/2) from Joseph Brooksbank’s agent, Joseph Dickinson. He notes there is ‘several spring woods 30 acres upwards, but the value of the wood is small’. We see evidence of this on the 1718 map, where several place names include ‘Spring’. This type of woodland probably represents former coppiced wood, which would have been an important element of the deer park landscape. There are also several enclosure names that include ‘Ellers’ (alder). Adjacent to Shire Oaks is another woodland named ‘Rath’, later named ‘Ellers’ then ‘Alders’, but it is no longer extant. Rath means ‘growing, blooming, or ripening early in the season’ and alder can be coppiced and it also makes excellent charcoal. Pasture wood recorded in 1782 (WYAS WYL68/74/53b) would also have been an important component of the former deer park (Jones 1993).

REFERENCES

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Primary sources

• West Yorkshire Archive Service, Leeds (WYAS)
• WYL68/2 A Particular Account of the severall Farmes in the Mannor of Healaugh taken only by inspection 1716 1716
• WYL68/3 Survey Ledger for Joseph Brooksbank by Joseph Dickinson 1718
• WYL68/4 Survey ledger of Healaugh, Catterton and Tadcaster for Joseph Brooksbank 1757
• WYL68/7 Survey ledger of Healaugh and Catterton for Mrs Snell 1788
• WYL68/8 Survey ledger of lands belonging to Benjamin Brooksbank and Mrs Snell in Healaugh and Catterton by G. Lang 1790
• WYL68/14 Survey ledger of parish of Healaugh for Stamp Brooksbank 1843
• WYL68/20 Survey ledger Healaugh rents 1888
• WYL68/33 Bundle misc. C18 papers:
• Court Leet and Court Baron for Thomas Earl of Wharton for Manor of Healaugh and Catterton
  A valuation of Oak, Ash and Elm wood standing in Manor of Healaugh and Catterton
  1707 1751
• WYL68/44 Notes on the history of Healaugh by Sir Edward Brooksbank late C19 - early C20
• WYL68/62 Map of Helaugh, Catterton and Synnithwaite by W.F Rapire 1636
• WYL68/63 Map Manor of Healaugh and Catterton by Joseph Dickinson 1718
• WYL68/66 Reduced map Manor Healaugh and Catterton 1790
• WYL68/67 Map of the manor of Healaugh according to settlement of 1782 1815
• WYL68/74/6A Indenture: Philip Lord Wharton 1634
• WYL/68/74/8 Indenture: Philip Lord Wharton 1635
• WYL68/74/29 Indenture: Thomas Wharton, Joseph Brooksbank and William Waller. 1714
• WYL68/74/53b Marriage settlement for Stamp Brooksbank [lists timber] 1782

Maps

• Christopher Saxton (Eboracensis Comitatus f.61) 1577
• John Speed, West Riding of Yorkshire 1610
• Willem and Jan Bleau, West Riding of Yorkshire 1645
• John Warburton, map of Yorkshire 1720
• Francis White, York and Ainsty map, 1785
• Ordnance Survey 1st edition, 6”, Surveyed 1846 to 1847, Published 1849
• Ordnance Survey 2nd edition, 6”, Surveyed 1891, Published 1894
• Ordnance Survey one inch, Revised 1896, Published 1898, Sheet 70 (Hills)