Topics > Historical Periods > Middle Ages (1154 to 1485 AD) > Medieval Fishponds

Medieval Fishponds


"The tradition of constructing and using fishponds in England began during the medieval period and peaked in the 12th century. They were largely built by the wealthy sectors of society with monastic institutions and royal residences often having large and complex fishponds. The difficulties of obtaining fresh meat in the winter and the value placed on fish in terms of its protein content and as a status food may have been factors which favoured the development of fishponds and which made them so valuable. The practice of constructing fishponds declined after the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 16th century although in some areas it continued into the 17th century. Most fishponds fell out of use during the post-medieval period although some were re-used as ornamental features in 19th and early 20th century landscape parks or gardens, or as watercress beds." (Historic England)

Middle Ages (1154 to 1485 AD) Medieval Fishpond east of Acklam Park Fishponds, NE of Sewingshields Medieval fishpond and enclosures, north-west of Elwick Hall Moated site and fishpond on Fozy Moss Fishpond, SW of Ray Cottages
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Fishponds, NE of Sewingshields
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Fishponds, NE of Sewingshields
- Map showing the Scheduled Monument area for the Fishponds, 450m north-east of Sewingshields Scheduled Monument (#1011081): Fishponds, 450m north-east of Sewingshields Click the headings below to expand (selected extracts from …
Medieval Fishpond east of Acklam Park
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Medieval Fishpond east of Acklam Park
- Scheduled Monument areas - based on Historic England data (Open Government Licence). On the east side of Mill Hill Field in Acklam, Middlesbrough, is a line of trees and ditch …
Medieval fishpond and enclosures, north-west of Elwick Hall
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Medieval fishpond and enclosures, north-west of Elwick Hall
- Note: Map data from Historic England c/o Open Data UK, under the Open Government Licence, imported into Google MyMaps, March 2026. Scheduled Monument (#1016353): Fishpond, enclosures and section of field …
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Fishpond, SW of Ray Cottages
- Scheduled Monument (#1011110): Fishpond, 400m south-west of Ray Cottages Click the headings below to expand (selected extracts from the Historic England scheduling) Significance The fishpond at Ray survives well and …
Moated site and fishpond on Fozy Moss
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Moated site and fishpond on Fozy Moss
- Scheduled Monument (#1011080): Moated site and fishpond, 1km ENE of Sewingshields on Fozy Moss Click the headings below to expand (selected extracts from the Historic England scheduling) Significance The moated …

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