Freemans Farm moated site

Overview

Heritage Category: Scheduled Monument

List Entry Number: 1008708

Date first listed: 02-Mar-1993

Location

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

National Grid Reference: TL 56923 34294

Summary

Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.

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.

The moat at Freemans Farm is well-preserved and will retain archaeological information relating to its use. The waterfilled ditches will contain environmental evidence pertaining to the landscape in which the monument was built.

History

Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.

Details

The monument includes a moated site situated on the floodplain of the River Cam, 100m south of Freemans Farm, Elder Street, and 1km north of the Harcamlow Way. It comprises a trapezoidal area measuring a maximum of 60m east-west by 50m north-south. The arms are waterfilled and are 8m in average width. A causeway 10m in width in the north-eastern corner is considered to be original. The island is level and raised about 0.3m above the surrounding ground level. A ditch 4m wide extends from the north-eastern corner and connects with the field drainage system, now piped underground, which fed the farm pond 65m north. The moated site is known as the kitchen garden and is considered to have always been used for horticultural purposes.

MAP EXTRACT The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract. It includes a 2 metre boundary around the archaeological features, considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number: 20687

Legacy System: RSM

Sources

Other
Information from SMR (No 173),

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 Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.