Moated site and pond at Charnes Old Hall

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 monument at Charnes Old Hall survives well, and represents a good example of a moated site and associated pond.

Details

The monument includes the moated site and its associated pond at Charnes Old Hall, Eccleshall. The waterfilled north, south and east arms of the moat measure up to 10m wide and 2m deep and are now supplied by surface drainage. The west arm has been infilled, but is visible as a grass-covered depression and survives as a buried feature. There is an external enclosure bank on the west and north sides of the moat. The island which measures 50m square is now partly occupied by a brick-built house. There are two causeways leading onto the island, from the east and the south. The earthworks to the north of the moated site represent a large pond, which is now dry. The outer bank of the moat provides a retaining bank for the pond on its southern edge. The large dam on the east side of the pond measures up to 2m high and has been breached. There is a rectangular earthwork within the pond which is slightly raised, and measures 30m west-east by 20m north-south. The earthwork forms an artificial island which was probably provided for waterfowl. Excluded from the scheduling are the brick-built Charnes Old Hall and associated outbuildings, fence posts and the surfaces of all paths and driveways but the ground beneath these features is included.

MAP EXTRACT The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

21506

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Johnstone, H, The Victoria History of the County of Staffordshire, (1908), 363

End of official list entry

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