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.
Details
The monument is situated 160m south west of St Michael and All Angels'
Church, Colwich on low lying land prone to flooding.
The moated site includes a slightly raised grass-covered island, rectangular
in plan, 85m NW-SE by 50m NE-SW. The remains of associated internal
earthworks are visible on the eastern side of the island. Access to the
interior of the moated site is by a causeway across the NE arm of the moat.
The moat measures 10m wide and is seasonally waterlogged though now partly
silted. It survives to a depth of approximately 1.5m. It is surrounded by a
tree-lined external enclosure bank up to 8m wide and 1m high. This feature is
most evident on the western edge of the site.
Excluded from the scheduling are the fence posts on the outer edge of the four
sides of the moat, and the building of corrugated-iron on the island but the
ground beneath these features is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
21502
Legacy System:
RSM
End of official list entry
