Moated site and fishpond 200m south-east of Melton 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 moated site at Melton Hall survives well. The island is unencumbered by modern building and will retain evidence of the buildings which occupied it. The moat and fishpond also retain conditions suitable for the preservation of organic remains.

Details

The monument includes the moated site of Ross Castle and an adjacent fishpond. The waterlogged moat which surrounds the island is 20m wide and up to 2m deep. The raised island is 40m square and 1m high. The fishpond lies to the west of the moated site. It is 28m long, 11m wide, and 0.3m deep, and is connected to the western arm of the moat by a channel 3m wide and 4m long; it is also 0.3m deep. A short and very heavily silted channel at its south-western corner connects the pond to the Skegger beck which runs to the south of the monument. The monument lies immediately to the south of Melton Ross. The village and hall names are derived from the De Roos family who held land on both sides of the Humber estuary during the medieval period, though little else is known about the monument.

MAP EXTRACT The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract. It includes a 2 metre boundary around the archaeological features, considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

21250

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Loughlin, N, Miller, K, Survey of Archaeological Sites in Humberside, (1979), 205

Other
CUC BZN 1-2, CUC BZN 1-2,

End of official list entry

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