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John Cole’s book, The History and Antiquities of Higham Ferrers, with historical notices of Rushden, and Irthlingborough - 1838 |
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Higham Park - 1838
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About one mile and a half from Rushden, within the liberty of which place it is situated, is now only enclosed by a wide mound, but was formerly pailed round. It was first imparked, or at least enlarged by King Hen. II., whilst the estate which had been possessed by William Peverel, was in the hands of the crown. It was given in the first year of King John, to the Earl of Ferrers, with the hundred and manor of Higham. Of this park mention is made in the thirty-fifth year of King Edward I., and again of the park and capital messuage in the inquisition taken in the first of King Edward III., after the decease of Thomas, Earl of Lancaster.
This park always did suite and service to the Duke of Lancaster, by royal command; and as an acknowledgement, gave, among other things, a certain number of deer every year, for his household, which was accepted through the medium of a formal and grand procession, twice in the year, viz. in the buck and doe seasons. In the reign of King Edward III., the yearly profits of the pasturage were valued at iv£. and the under wood cut down every year at xxs. In the twenty-second of James I. a proclamation was issued for apprehending Edward Ekins, of Stanwick, who with other persons had committed certain outrages in the King's park of Higham Ferrers, by killing and carrying away the deer, and beating and wounding the keepers. (Bridges, vol.2, 194) |
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