the ponds were originally excavated by the Norman landowner to whom William 'gave' this area to relieve himself of the difficulties of keeping back the Celts. In between dealing with them, they liked hunting and to show off their 'huntlands' to impress neighbours, hence some re-arangement. The pond area was considerably disturbed by landscape 'improvers' from the C16th onwards, but is now being allowed to gain an ecological balance