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 150m south-west of Brewood Lodge
in Weston Park.
The moated island measures 18m north-south by 28m west-east and there is
evidence for ex situ sandstone blocks on the island and within the moat ditch.
The moat is approximately 10m wide and up to 2.5m deep. The northern arm is
waterfilled but is beginning to silt up and the western, eastern and southern
arms of the moat are now dry. There are slight earthworks on the outer edge of
the western arm of the moat. An external bank is visible on the southern and
eastern sides of the moat, approximately 8m wide. There is a break in the
outer bank at its south-eastern corner and a 3m-wide dry channel cuts across
the east bank, although this feature is no longer visible beyond the bank's
outer edge.
The moated site in Weston Park may be connected with the park which was first
mentioned in 1346 and which contained a medieval house. A house is known to
have been present on the site in 1658.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
21520
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
