Monument record 0420802070 - Bridgeman's Canal, South Lawn, Stowe Landscape Gardens

Summary

Parchmarks on aerial photographs of south lawn interpreted as eighteenth century ornamental canal

Protected Status/Designation

  • SHINE: Stowe medieval to post medieval landscape garden, medieval deserted villages of Lamport & Boycott, shrunken village of Daford, also moats, manors and fishponds, ridge and furrow earthworks & cropmarks, and areas of ancient semi natural woodland

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Type and Period (1)

  • ORNAMENTAL CANAL (18th Century - 1700 AD to 1799 AD)

Description

The National Trust's Survey of Stowe undertaken in 1989 noted a rectangular hollow with slight mounds to the N and S. Though to be the remains of the canal which formed a long axis joing the Queen's Theatre and the Rotunda in Bridgeman's formal gardens (B18).
The English Heritage survey of Stowe undertaken in 2001 notes that a parchmark on aerial photographs centred at SP67403760 is thought to be the ornamental canal begun in 1716 and filled in between 1756 and 1763. The canal is shown on Bridgeman's plan of 1720 and Riguad's engraving of 1733-4 (B19).
Geophysical survey carried out by MOLA Northampton in March 2020 and March 2021 identified a variable linear anamoly interpreted as the southern edge of Bridgeman's Canal. A more distinct anomaly on the central axis of the canal is believed to be a modern drainage cut. A dog-legged row of closely-spaced ferrous anomalies between the site of the South Front Pond [CASS 0420802038] and the northern edge of Bridgeman's Canal is interpreted as a historic pipe supplying a head of water from the pond to the former fountain in the centre of Bridgeman's Canal (shown in an engraving of 1739). See report for detail (B85).

Sources (22)

  • ---SBC17422 Aerial Photograph: 04/09/76. BCM A2/11/20-22. SP\674376. Yes.
  • ---SBC20023 Unpublished document: English Heritage. 2001. Stowe Park, Stowe, Buckinghamshire: An Archaeological Survey by English Heritage (Survey Report).
  • <1>SBC9229 Bibliographic reference: C Morris (ed). 1949. The Journeys of Celia Fiennes c1694. pp29-30.
  • <2>SBC14098 Bibliographic reference: SEELEY B 1766 STOWE, A DESCRIPTION OF THE MAGNIFICENT HOUSE & GARDENS (WITH ILLUS) (ARE VARIOUS ED.
  • <3>SBC16278 Bibliographic reference: VERTUE G ET AL; ENGRAVINGS IN SOC OF ANTIQUARIES RED PORTFOLIO P24.
  • <4>SBC7809 Bibliographic reference: LIPSCOMB 3 PP84-108 (FULL DESCRIPTION & ILLUS OF MANSION, APARTMENTS, CONTENTS & GARDENS).
  • <5>SBC14400 Bibliographic reference: SHEAHAN PP304-8 (FULL DESCRIPTION OF HOUSE, GARDEN TEMPLES &C).
  • <6>SBC16094 Bibliographic reference: VCH BUCKS 4 PP229-233 (FULL DESCRIPTION, ILLUS, GROUND PLAN, MANORIAL HISTORY).
  • <7>SBC11805 Bibliographic reference: PEVSNER N 1960 BUCKINGHAMSHIRE PP251-265 & ILLUS (FULL DESC, & ACCOUNT OF WORK SINCE HOUSE BECAME A.
  • <8>SBC10383 Map: Ordnance Survey. 1958. OS 1958 6IN MAP. 1:10,560.
  • <9>SBC16531 Bibliographic reference: WHISTLER L, GIBBON M & CLARKE G 1974 STOWE, A GUIDE TO THE GARDENS (HAS A FULL BIBLIOGRAPHY ON PP37-.
  • <10>SBC2990 Bibliographic reference: CLARKE G 1976 (JULY) SLIDES OF AIR PHOTOS TAKEN JULY 1976 FROM A BALLOON SHOWING FORMER GARDEN FEATU.
  • <11>SBC2991 Bibliographic reference: CLARKE G 1979 (DEC) LETTER RE ICE HOUSES (ON CAS FILE) ALSO OS 1880/5 6-INCH 1:10560 (1ST EDN).
  • <12>SBC8335 Unpublished document: MEEHAN J 1988 STOWE; ELYSIAN FIELDS TREE & LEVEL SURVEY (TYPESCRIPT REPORT & MAP, FILED).
  • <13>SBC16362 Bibliographic reference: WAINWRIGHT A 1989 NATIONAL TRUST ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY: STOWE (COPY, FILED).
  • <14>SBC3681 Bibliographic reference: DoE. 1983. List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest.
  • <15>SBC9897 Bibliographic reference: NATTES C 1805-9 COLLECTION OF 105 SKETCHES & DRAWINGS OF STOWE (AT BCM).
  • <16>SBC16364 Bibliographic reference: WAINWRIGHT A 1993 REPORTS ON THE STOWE PYRAMID, THE SAXON DEITIES & THE SOUTH FRONT (COPIES, FILED).
  • <17>SBC4634 Bibliographic reference: English Heritage. 1994. REGISTER OF PARKS & GARDENS OF SPECIAL HISTORIC INTEREST IN ENGLAND: BUCKINGHAMSHIRE. Part 4.
  • <18>SBC19992 Unpublished document: Angus Wainwright. 1989. The National Trust Archaeological Survey: Stowe. pp27.
  • <19>SBC20024 Unpublished document: Hazel Riley. 2001. Stowe Park, Stowe, Buckinghamshire: An Archaeological Survey by English Heritage (Site Gazetteer). AI/21/2001.
  • <85>SBC26751 Unpublished document: MOLA Northampton. 2021. Archaeological Geophysical Survey at Stowe Landscape Gardens March 2020 to March 2021.

Location

Grid reference SP 6750 3715 (point)
Civil Parish STOWE, Aylesbury Vale, Buckinghamshire

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

Related Events/Activities (1)

  • Event - Survey: Geophysical survey (Ref: ENA 9607) (EBC18607)

Record last edited

Mar 5 2024 3:18PM

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