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 at Porter's Hall on a hill top
overlooking and 1.25km south-east of Stebbing Brook. It includes a
rectangular moated area which measures 110m NW-SE by 65m NE-SW. The arms are
between 12m and 6m in width and are water-filled, except to the south-west
where they have recently dried out. The eastern corner has an irregular
extension which measures 30m NE-SW by 20m NW-SE. The southern corner has also
been extended along the same line as the south-western arm for a further 32m.
Along the southern edge of this arm is a slight bank, 3.5m in width and about
0.4m high which is considered to have been used as a garden terrace. An
outlet channel leads from the southern corner of the moat to the road. The
island is undulating, particularly to the north-west where the foundations of
the original house are located. A small section of the original house, which
dates to the 15th or 16th century, survives as the northern-most part of the
present day outhouses (Listed Grade II). The present Porter's Hall is dated
to the 16th century and is Listed Grade 11*. Access to the island is across a
modern brick-built bridge on the north-eastern arm which replaced a
wooden drawbridge. This section of the arm was infilled during the
construction of the brick bridge. A small wooden footbridge crosses the
south-western arm.
Porter's Hall moated site is considered to be associated with the family of
Henry Le Portir in 1284.
The house, outbuildings, bridges, driveway and waterpipe are all excluded from
the scheduling but the ground beneath these features is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
20691
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
