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 includes a moated site situated in the grounds of Old Rectory
Farm and probably represents the site of the manor house associated with the
medieval village of Woughton on the Green. The moat visibly survives around
the north, west and east sides of the island, averaging 10m wide and 1.6m
deep, but is overlain in the south by the modern farmyard. The internal
platform is slightly raised above the surrounding natural land surface and is
rectangular in shape, measuring 22m east to west by 30m north to south. To
the immediate east of the moat is a rectangular pond 30m long by 10m wide
orientated east to west. All buildings and fences are excluded from the
scheduling but the ground beneath them is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
19017
Legacy System:
RSM
End of official list entry
