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 is Hayholme moated site. It includes a sub-rectangular central
island surrounded by a water-logged moat. The central island measures
43m east-west by 34m north-south. The surrounding moat is 10m wide and up to
3m deep. The northern arm of the moat is crossed by an earthen causeway. At
the western end of the northern arm a section of the moat was redug and
revetted with brick in the 19th century to form a farm pond and horse-wash.
The island has an uneven surface and fragments of burnt brick and pottery have
been found on it, indicating the presence and survival of structural remains.
The manor was the ancient home of the Noel family but was gifted to the abbey
of Meaux before 1160. By 1390 the site was the abbey's principal cattle farm.
Buildings on the island were demolished and replaced by structures external
to the moat, probably on the site now occupied by modern buildings, between
1372 and 1396.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
21184
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals
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
