Laird describes Hexgrave as 'anciently a park with evident vestiges of a Roman encampment placed on a hill - In some spots the ditch and vallum may still be traced, but the intermediate lines have been completely destroyed by the plough'. The site may well have been occupied prior to this considering its favourable topography. The ancient deer park which developed on the site was owned by the Archbishops of York. It was granted to them by Royal Charter in 956 AD. It was one of four granted to them in the area, the others being Hockerwood and Southwell New Park. Throsby mentions that a seat of the Archbishop had existed on the site before the construction of 'a good house'. The park is shown as emparked on both the Saxton map of 1576 and the John Speed map of 1610. This was replaced by a small country house in the mid eighteenth century with a number of extensions added c.1800. The house was re-fronted in the late nineteenth century. The listed Swan Lodge was added in the mid nineteenth century and the rendered North Lodge replaced the original on the other side of the drive after 1874. The Estate Plan of 1874 (see Fig.5) shows an area of parkland already in existence to the east and south of the hall continuing down to Lower Hexgrave. The O.S. map of 1900 (see Fig. 6) shows large areas of mixed woodland planting which was obviously created after 1874. The map also shows 2 No. linear avenues and 2 No. additional rows alongside the A617. (1) (2)
Hegrave Park mentioned 1259 onwards (Cal Pat 1258-66, 49) - owned by Archbishop of York. (4)
See M9874 for Hexgreave Hall.

<1> Notts Historic Gardens Trust, 1995-1997, Notts Historic Parks and Gardens Files (Unpublished document). SNT4553.

<2> Biggadyke J, 1995, Hexgrave Park - Register Review Report (Unpublished document). SNT4570.

<3> Throsby J, 1796, Thoroton's History of Notts Vol 3, p 92 (Published document). SNT1347.

<4> Cantor LM, 1983, The Medieval Parks of England: A Gazetteer, pp 58-9 (Monograph). SNT1789.

<5> Thoroton Society, 1986, TTS, pp 14-29 (Published document). SNT1575.