Moat at Old Place

Summary

Moated site at Old Place, 270m NNW of Manor Lodge.

Reasons for Designation

Around 6,000 moated sites are known in England. They consist of wide ditches, often or seasonally water-filled, partly or completely enclosing one or more islands of dry ground on which stood domestic or religious buildings. In some cases the islands were used for horticulture. The majority of moated sites served as prestigious aristocratic and seigneurial residences with the provision of a moat intended as a status symbol rather than a practical military defence. The peak period during which moated sites were built was between about 1250 and 1350 and by far the greatest concentration lies in central and eastern parts of England. However, moated sites were built throughout the medieval period, are widely scattered throughout England and exhibit a high level of diversity in their forms and sizes. They form a significant class of medieval monument and are important for the understanding of the distribution of wealth and status in the countryside. Many examples provide conditions favourable to the survival of organic remains.

The moated site at Old Place survives well and will contain archaeological and environmental information relating to its use, construction and the landscape in which it was built.

History

See Details.

Details

This record was the subject of a minor enhancement on 24 February 2015. This record has been generated from an "old county number" (OCN) scheduling record. These are monuments that were not reviewed under the Monuments Protection Programme and are some of our oldest designation records.

The monument includes a moated site surviving as earthworks and below-ground archaeological remains. It is situated at the bottom of a north facing slope on the southern edge of Brede Level near Icklesham. The site is visible as a raised platform in the low-lying field.

It was partially excavated between 1974 and 1975, which uncovered a considerable quantity of pre-medieval, medieval and post-medieval pottery. The amount of material recovered from one of the excavation trenches indicated that there was a rubbish tip, dating to the 16th century on the site. In 1976, the outline of a building was recorded as a cropmark on the site.

Further archaeological remains survive within the vicinity of this monument, such as the site of bloomery furnaces, but are not included because they have not been formally assessed.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

ES 451

Legacy System:

RSM - OCN

Sources

Other
East Sussex HER MES3988. NMR TQ81NE15. PastScape 417365

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