Great Brockholds moated site and fishpond

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.

Great Brockholds remains essentially undisturbed and as such will retain archaeological information pertaining to the occupation of the site. The water-filled ditches will retain environmental evidence relating to the economy of its inhabitants and the landscape in which they lived.

Details

The monument includes a moated site and fishpond situated on high ground 2km south-east of Radwinter church. The moated site is square in shape measuring 84m NE-SW. The moat arms are water-filled in places and are between 3m and 15m wide. A retaining bank 1m wide and 1m high is situated along the western arm while on the south-western arm the retaining bank is between 1m and 6m wide and is approximately 1.5m high. A modern causeway 3m wide on the south-east arm and a footbridge across the north-east arm give access to the island, which has been partly levelled off and rises slightly towards the west and south angles. A fishpond, 10m south-east of the moat and measuring 50m NW-SE by 15m NE-SW, is kept water-filled by seepage. The pond was once connected to the moat by a drainage channel which, although no longer visible at ground level, is preserved as a buried feature. The manor was held by the Rood family of Great Sampford in the 14th century until in 1419 it passed by marriage to Geoffrey Brokhole along with Asheldham Manor.

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:

20710

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Reaney, PH, Place names of Essex, (1935)

Other
Nar No: TL 63 NW 9, Information from the National Archaeological Record (TL63NW9),
SMR No: 1440, Information from SMR (No 1440),

End of official list entry

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