Durham County Council Review of Historic Parks, Gardens and Designed Landscapes of Local Interest Muggleswick Park

Muggleswick Park

Grid Reference NZ 036499 Date August 2017 Author Fiona Green

Planning Status Not previously identified in a local plan as Historic Park and Garden Partly within Muggleswick Conservation Area

Site Designations North Pennines AONB SIII - Northern England PROWs across the park

History Durham HER records a possible cairn in Muggelswick Park (D38939). Muggleswick Park is recorded as a Deer Park in Durham HER (D2227) ‘Muglingwyc’ is recorded in the Boldon Book of 1183, and held Prior of Durham. The Grange was built by Prior Hugh de Derlington in the mid 13th century. Muggleswick Park was enclosed in the mid 13th century, probably as a deer park. After the Dissolution of the Durham monastery in 1539, Muggleswick passed to the Dean and Chapter of Durham Cathedral. Although the land was owned by the Bishop and he retained the hunting rights, the Prior was given licence to assart (enclose and cultivate) 160 acres at Muggleswick in 1259, and use additional land as pasture. The prior was forbidden from installing a deer leap (a ditch and bank which allowed deer to leap in but not out of the park). The cultivated lands were extended and documents from the late 13th century record the bishops granted over 1200 acres of wood and waste at Muggleswick to the Prior and monks of Durham. A charter dated 1259, was granted by Bishop Walter de Kirkham to Prior Hugh de Derlington and the Convent licence ‘to enclose and impark their wood in the vill of Muclingwic’. The Prior developed the land to graze cattle and sheep for the monastery at Durham. A document dated 1464 lists the stock at Muggleswick which consisted of “43 oxen, 28 young oxen and heifers of 3 years, 45 cows, 26 young oxen and heifers of two years, 20 calves of a year old, 17 young calves, 85 sheep, 52 ewes, 27 hoggs and 24 lambs” Durham County Council Review of Historic Parks, Gardens and Designed Landscapes of Local Interest Muggleswick Park

Description The park was deliberately designed for the purpose of hunting deer. Muggleswick Park is shown on Burghley’s map of 1569, titled ‘Mugglesworth’. Saxton’s map of 1576 also shows the park, Also Greenwood’s map of County Durham dated 1820. The boundary of the park is evident on the Lidar image. Some parts of the boundary are believed to be visible in the form of low walls which appear to have been formed from hedgebanks. (Conservation Area Report). The higher levels of ground would have provided an advantageous viewpoint for the chase. Today the deer park covers a large expanse of moorland with the village of Muggleswick located on the north east corner of the park.

Recommendation Add to List of Parks, Gardens and Designed Landscapes of Local Interest

Durham County Council Review of Historic Parks, Gardens and Designed Landscapes of Local Interest Muggleswick Park

Significance Factor Commentary Interest Local Regional National International Age Medieval 1066 -1540 Y

Aesthetic Value High Y

Landscape or Horticultural Of high local interest Y Interest

Designer Evidence of deliberate design. Y

Group Value Medieval hunting park. See also Auckland Park, Evenwood Park. Y

Rarity There are 26 sites recorded as Deer Parks in County Durham. Y These include 17th, 18th-century show parks as well as medieval deer hunting parks such as Wolsingham and Stanhope.

Historic Interest Medieval sport, aristocratic status symbol. Y

Historical Association The Bishops of Durham, Durham Priory. Y

Social and Communal Value PROW. The site is of educational value Y

Evidential Value High Y

Overall significance Muggleswick Park was designed specifically for the aesthetic Y sport of hunting deer and deliberately located in the wild open countryside. The park is discernible and is of local historic interest.

Durham County Council Review of Historic Parks, Gardens and Designed Landscapes of Local Interest Muggleswick Park

Background Information

Location, Area, Boundaries, Landform, Setting

Entrances and approaches N/A

Principal Buildings N/A

Gardens & Pleasure Grounds N/A

Park Extensive moorland but with distinctive boundaries.

Kitchen Garden N/A

Other Land Monastic Grange at Priory Farm SAM List Entry Number 1016814 Remains of Manor House at Priory Farm. Grade I. List Entry Number 1260912

References Durham University Archives Extensive Priory Accounts Published Sources Heritage, Landscape and Design Durham County Council (2011) Muggleswick, Conservation Area Character Appraisal Rollason, D (2017) Princes of the Church: Bishops and their Palaces Dobson, R.B. (2005) Durham Priory 1400-1450

Historic Landscape Not identified Characterisation

Further Research Not required as part of this review.