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 and fishponds situated between the River
Ouzel and Holy Trinity Church, Great Woolstone. The rectangular moat lies to
the south of Holy Trinity Church. It remains visible on its west and south
sides only, where it is represented by a shallow ditch averaging 6m wide and
0.2m deep. The fishpond complex lies to the east of the church running along
the west bank of the River Ouzel. It includes two well defined dry hollows,
averaging 0.9m deep, identified as fishponds. One is L-shaped with arms some
30m long by 14m wide. The second lies adjoining the first, parallel to its
southern side and at right angles to the river; it is orientated south-west to
north-east and has dimensions of 52m long by 19m. These ponds appear to have
been divided internally to create areas of different water depth. To the
immediate north of these large ponds is a series of lesser ponds; they are
arranged in a linear pattern along the west bank of the river and average some
10m wide and 0.4m deep. These also show evidence for internal division and
the size of these may indicate that they were designed as breeding ponds. In
general all the lesser ponds appear to be positioned to allow drainage into
the larger. The whole complex including the remains of the moat forms an
integrated manorial complex and is accordingly regarded as a single monument.
Holy Trinity Church itself is excluded from the scheduling although the ground
beneath it is included. The former churchyard is also included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
19004
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
