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 situated 15m to the south of Moat Farm, in the parish of
Walsall and includes the earthwork remains of a moated site.
The moated site has been constructed on a south-facing slope and its external
dimensions are 96m north-south and 76m east-west. The four moat arms measure
up to 18m wide and are seasonally waterlogged, although the south east corner
of the moat remains waterfilled. The moat averages a depth of 1m beneath the
surrounding ground surface. There is a retaining bank along the western side
of the moated site which is 10m wide and approximately 0.5m high. This
retaining bank is thought to have been slightly modified during the 19th
century when the site was used as a source of clay.
Access onto the moated island is by a brick bridge across the eastern arm of
the moat and it is thought to mark the site of the original entrance across
the moat. The bridge is 19th century in date and is not included in the
scheduling. The moated island, itself, has an irregular square plan and
measures 52m north-south and 40m east-west.
During the early 14th century the site, known as the Moat House at Heyhead,
was in the possession of Robert Stapleton. Nineteenth century sources indicate
that at this date, the moated site was occupied by a house, the southern end
of which was half timbered, while the rest was 19th century in date. This
house was demolished in the 1870s.
All fence posts, the two sheds and the caravans within the moated island, and
the brick bridge and its gate piers are excluded from the scheduling, although
the ground beneath these features is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
21565
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
