NHER 30521 (Designed Landscape record) - Ryston Park

Historic Parkland on (S1), but not included in the National Heritage List for England (S2).
Sir Roger Pratt inherited the estate in 1667 and built the hall (NHER 2461). There is no reference to any parkland within his detailed accounts. However, there are substantial references to the garden, which included a kitchen garden and flower garden. The first indication of a park is a depiction on Faden's 1797 map (S3), which shows an enclosed area of about 60 hectares. Between 1820 and 1838 additional land was taken into the park to the north west. At the same time the area to the south of the house was being altered to form the main ‘lawn’ of the property. By the time the Tithe map (S4) was drawn in 1839, some of the original enclosed area had been divided into fields to be farmed. There is no evidence that perimeter belt planting was used on the site. By 1839 (S4) it appears that there was little left of Sir Roger’s gardens. A large kitchen garden did exist but lay further east of the hall and was probably built during the estate work of the 1820s. The eastern road had been moved between 1794 and 1849 and now ran along the eastern boundary of the estate complex.
Between 1839 (S4) and 1929 (S5) the park increased rapidly to 180 hectares. The First Edition Ordnance Survey map (S6) shows that though divisions in the parkland still existed they had increased in size. An Ice House (NHER 2462) was located to the north-east of the hall. It was during this period that the arboretum, which included a substantial variety of trees, was formed to the south of the park and the gardens redesigned. By 1929 (S5) there were major additions and alterations to the estate, as three fields were added to the park on the opposite side to the north boundary road. A south western tree belt was added and other areas of plantation extended.
There is a Thuja (American red cedar) avenue. The oldest tree at Ryston, reputedly ‘Kett’s Oak’ (NHER 2466), has a girth of 30 feet.
E. Rose (NLA), 22 March 1994.
Updated by E. Micholl (UEA), 14 November 2011. Amended H. Hamilton (HES), 29 October 2024.

1988-1992. Documentary Research and Site Visit.
A detailed report on the development of the park (S7) was compiled to inform the Norfolk County Council Inventory of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest (S1). The work included documentary research, and site survey. The latter included a tree survey with an accompanying map (S8).
A short summary including an assessment of importance was also compiled (S1). This site was considered to be of major importance.
H. Hamilton (HES), 29 October 2024.

[unknown]. Documentary Research.
A short summary of the development of the park was compiled (S9).
The circumstances of the creation of this report are uncertain.
H. Hamilton (HES), 29 October 2024.

1996. Earthwork Survey.
Visited whilst surveying the site of Ristuna deserted medieval settlement (NHER 2453).
Earthworks in the parkland to northwest and northeast of hall sketched on Ordnance Survey 1:2500 map (S10).
In the northwest, the previous drive is visible as a hollow with continuation of hollow way from site NHER 2453 (see NHER 2453 for further details of features in this area).
Linear depressions on both sides of present drive suggest parkland features, possibly earlier limits of the park, with possible ponds.
Rectangular layout of drains to west seen to south on Ordnance Survey air photograph (S11).
Northeast of hall, series of north-to-south ditches crossing former drive.
B.Cushion (NLA), May 1996.

December 2001. Air photo interpretation.
Area of park near/round hall visible on NLA photography taken in 1996 (S12), including some earthwork features.
H. Clare (NLA), 4 December 2001. Amended H. Hamilton (HES), 29 October 2024.