Moated site 230m south east of St Peter and St Paul's Church

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 230m south east of St Peter and St Paul's Church survives comparatively well and will contain archaeological and environmental information relating to the monument and the landscape in which it was constructed and later reused. The site is unusual in that it has produced evidence for industrial activity. This monument is one of a pair of contemporary sites which occur in close proximity. This pairing is likely to give an insight into the medieval occupation of this area, and the economy and fortunes of the site's inhabitants between the 12th and 16th centuries AD. It has been suggested that this is the original site of Weston Manor.

Details

The monument includes a rectangular moated site situated 230m south east of St Peter and St Paul's Church. The site is situated on a low river terrace overlooking an area of Levels to the south and overlooked by higher ground to the north. The moated site includes a slightly raised grass-covered island, which slopes gently from north to south and has dimensions of 75m from east to west and 62.5m from north to south, surrounded by a partially waterfilled moat. The northern, eastern and western arms of the moat have been largely infilled, but are visible as earthworks 8m-10m wide and up to 1.5m deep. The southern arm of the moat survives largely in its original form and is waterfilled. The monument appears in several 18th century records and on the Tithe Map of 1838. The site lies in close proximity to a 15th century manor house and, as the Perceval family is known to have been resident from the late 12th century may represent its original position. The site is likely to have served an industrial function as iron-based slag deposits appear in an area towards the centre of the island. Excluded from the scheduling are all fence posts relating to the field boundaries, although the underlying ground is included.

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:

22860

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Collinson, J, History of Somerset, (1791), 171-6
Anderson, , Genealogical History of the House of Yvery, (1742), 421-2

Other
Suggestion of early manor inside moat,

End of official list entry

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