Monument record MWX253 - Fishponds at Odden's Wood, Abbotsbury

A pair of fishponds situated on the southern side of Oddens Wood. The fishponds lie to the south of the precinct of St Peters Abbey and to the north east of Abbotsbury Swannery and are likely to relate to the use of the Abbey. The north eastern pond is sub-rectangular in plan with maximum dimensions of 75 metres by 60 metres. It has been modified since 1952, with the addition of an artificial island in the centre. The south western fishpond is rectangular in plan with maximum dimensions of 75 metres by 42 metres. It is situated around 5 metres lower than the neighbouring pond and is no longer waterlain. Water was fed into the north eastern pond by means of a channel from the east, and then flowed into the south western pond by means of a two channelled weir which had two sluice gates.

West of the abbey is an area of about 14 acres, supposed to be the abbey garden, and still so called, where there are remains of terraces and fishponds. <1>

Fishponds are in the Abbey Garden and in Odden's Wood. <3>

There are fishponds in Odden's Wood. <4>

C: SY 58018486. A and B: Now visible as two grass covered depressions as shown on plan. C: Two large adjacent ponds divided by a strong bank and a weir. The north eastern one is water-filled, whilst the south western one is now overgrown and dry, and is formed by a strong bank on its south western side, whilst the remaining two sides are formed by a glacis type bank. A small stream runs through the ponds. <5>

<1> Shipp, W, and Hodson, J W (eds), 1863, The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset. 3rd edition. Volume 2, 722 (Monograph). SWX1269.

<2> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey 1 to 25 inch scale map, 1902 (Map). SDO18020.

[A: SY 57628520] Fish Pond [GT] [B: SY 57618494] Fish Pond (GT]

<3> Moule, Rev W S, 1946, Abbotsbury The Church Abbey and Other Points of Interest, p21 (Monograph). SWX1589.

<4> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments England, 1952, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume I (West), 7 (Monograph). SDO97.

<5> Swatridge, G C, Various, Field Investigators Comments GCS, 23/03/1955 (Unpublished document). SWX1169.

<6> National Record of the Historic Environment, 450460 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Oct 9 2024 5:10PM