The rectangular pond

This is in the north corner of the garden. It has a complex, only partly understood, history which extends back to at least the 18th century.
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After a wet winter a stream rises in the ponds to the west of Honeywood, flows across the south end of the rectangular pond and then into a culvert under the lawn. The culvert emerges behind the house and then flows under it to re-emerge in the front garden and run into Upper Pond. In the early 20th century there was always water running through the garden but the water table has since dropped, and the flow is intermittent.

An archaeological investigation in 2010 showed that the pond has a floor of chalk blocks. This was reburied to protect it from the frost. The side walls are of brick with clear evidence of various alterations of uncertain significance.

In the 19th century parts of the pond wall were decorated with metalworking slag and a small grotto-like niche was erected at the back. This stood above a little cascade which was fed by a conduit from the pond behind Honeywood. The existing sloping cascade is a 20th century replacement of the Victorian one. It is probably different from the original cascade, the form of which is unknown.
The 2010 excavation uncovered evidence of a small summer house - almost certainly of wood - by the north or Festival Walk end of the pond.

The rectangular pond during archaeological investigations in 2010 looking north towards Festival Walk. The chalk floor was exposed. The little grotto and cascade can be seen background left

A detailed examination of the rectangular pond, as it is currently understood, may be found from the link below

The rectangular pond in 2010 looking south in the direction of Pound Street. The grotto and cascade are on the right. The arch which spans the stream where it enters the pond is visible background right

The grotto and the cascade. The grotto dates from the 19th century but the cascade is 20th century rebuild

The weir and former sluice gate where the stream enters the pond

Looking from the pond into the entrance to the culvert under the lawn in 2010

In the next page we look at