The medieval deer park at Stow was first documented at the end of the 12th century, but undoubtly existed prior to this. It occupies the whole of the near-rectangular south-western projection of Stow parish. Woodland was an important feature of the park; this may indicate that it was carved out of pre-existing woodland. When the Bishop leased his demesne lands at Stow Park in 1534, he made provision for feeding 200 deer. The park is referred to in a will of 1630, and was still shown as an empaled area on Armstrong's map of 1778 and Stark's map of 1817. By the early 19th century, it was said that the park was divided into 4 farms. The east and west boundaries of the park survive as large tree-covered banks, up to 1m high and 8m across, with water filled dykes on either side, giving an overall dimension of about 15m; they retain the names East and West lawn, documented in the 13th century. The south boundary also coincides with the parish boudary, and the modern by-road following it is markedly raised, perhaps from lying on the former pale bank. On the north and north-east, the details of the circuit are less clear, but it may have diverged from the parish boudary, and followed a strikingly straight run of hedge lines before swinging west, adjacent to the moated site. Alternatively, the boundary may have followed the parish boundary to the point to the north-east where the stream that feeds the moat springs westward. Even within the latter, larger circuit, only one possible block of ridge and furrow has been noted by Everson. {1} Remains of the deer park, as well as the associated deserted medieval settlement and Bishop's Palace, are visible as cropmark and earthwork remains in aerial photographs. The remains were identified and recorded by the National Mapping Programme. {2}{3}{4} The medieval deer park formerly occupied an area of about 275ha, extending southwards from the moated site (see PRN 54199). It is protected in two separate areas as earthworks, which are the only surviving features of a once extensive landscape. All fences , gates and all standing buildings and modern surfaces at Moat Farm are excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath them is included.{5}