Reasons for Designation
Medieval manorial settlements, comprising small groups of houses with
associated gardens, yards and paddocks, supported communities devoted
primarily to agriculture, and acted as the foci for manorial administration.
Although the sites of many of these settlements have been occupied
continuously down to the present day, many others declined in size or were
abandoned at some time during the medieval and post-medieval periods,
particularly during the 14th and 15th centuries. The reasons for desertion
were varied but often reflected declining economic viability, changes in land-
use such as enclosure or emparkment, or population fluctuations as a result of
widespread epidemics such as the Black Death. As a consequence of their
abandonment, these settlements are frequently undisturbed by later occupation
and contain well-preserved archaeological deposits, providing information on
the diversity of medieval settlement patterns and farming economy, and on the
structure and changing fortunes of manorial communities.
Details
The monument includes the site of Weston Manor, a manorial settlement situated
on a low ridge overlooking a surrounding area of Levels to the south and
overlooked by higher ground to the north.
The site survives in the form of both upstanding and buried remains. The
upstanding remains of the manor building itself survive as masonry
incorporated into the boundary wall which currently encloses part of the site.
The main occurrence is in the south western corner, although this is now
partially obscured by vegetation. Buried remains survive across the remainder
of the site. In places these have been infilled or covered but some remain
visible as upstanding earthworks.
The site of the manor is confirmed by its depiction on the 1838 Tithe Map,
which shows the shell of the former manor house occupying the entire area of
an orchard, the boundaries of which partly remain. In addition, the manor at
Weston in Gordano is known from historical sources to have been held by the
Perceval family from the period after the Norman Conquest until 1692. Although
the family is thought to have been resident by the late 12th century AD, the
manor house was not constructed until around 1430; it was subsequently
ornamented during the late 15th to early 16th centuries. The manor was
ransacked and partly demolished during the Civil War.
A broadly contemporary moated site with evidence for industrial activity is
sited c.50m to the east, and may represent the manorial site's earlier
location.
Excluded from the scheduling are all fence posts, although the underlying
ground is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
22859
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals 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
