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 North Garth moated site. It includes a series of dry ditches
enclosing a main moated site and a group of associated enclosures.
The main moated site is situated at the northern end of the monument. The
island defined by the moat is 40m long north-south and 20m east-west. It is
enclosed by a moat 6m wide and 1m-1.5m deep. The northern arm of the moat and
northern end of the island have been truncated by the modern road which now
bounds the site to the north.
The enclosures are situated to the south and east of the main moat. The
surrounding ditches are 5m wide and 1m deep and define six enclosures. The
ditches and moat appear to have served as much to drain this low-lying site as
to defend and define it.
An external earthen bank defines the western edge of the monument. It is 5m
wide, 0.5m high and 150m long and is orientated north to south.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
21186
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Other
Legal
This monument is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 as amended as it appears to the Secretary of State to be of national importance. This entry is a copy, the original is held by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
End of official list entry
