Walkern Park and Bassus Green

Adapted from Walkern Local History Notes by H & M Venster

Walkern Park is first mentioned in documents in the year 1360.

In 1373 John Bassett was keeper: his family gave their name to Bassett’s (Bassus) Green

In 1379 the park had an area of 398 acres and in 1435 the charge on the land was 26/8d beyond the cost of sustaining the wild animals. John Hotoft is named keeper in 1427 and John Humberstone in 1428. Humberstone seems to have been a farmer of some standing, whose memorial is in the church. He lived at Walkern Park at a house called Holmes, likely to have some link with the present Holmes Farm. In 1420, during the reign of Henry V, John Humberstone is described as a yeoman of Walkern and had City connections. There is a record, describing him in 1428 as keeper of the park warren at Walkem. They are interesting because they got into the very little written local news of those days.