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 rectangular moated site at Ranton Hall Farm, Ranton.
The moated island measures approximately 85m NW-SE by 55m SW-NE. It is
slightly elevated and is partly occupied by a modern brick-built farmhouse.
The moat is up to 10m wide and is mainly dry although the northern corner is
waterfilled. The south-western arm has been infilled but will survive as a
buried feature, partly overlain by agricultural buildings. The western and
southern corners of the moat have been infilled but remain visible on the
ground surface as shallow depressions. There is, today, a low causeway across
the south-eastern arm of the moat but the location of the original entrance is
uncertain.
The brick-built farmhouse, its outbuildings and associated agricultural
buildings, the telegraph poles and cable supports, all fence posts and the
surfaces of all paths and driveways are excluded from the scheduling but the
ground beneath all these features is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
21513
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
