Woodend moated site

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.

Woodend medieval moated site survives well and despite infilling of the moat's southern arm remains largely unencumbered by modern development. The site remains unexcavated and sandstone building foundations are known to exist on the island. The moat's waterlogged eastern arm will preserve organic material.

Details

The monument is Woodend medieval moated site. The site includes an island some 37m square that contains minor surface undulations in its eastern half and a raised area measuring c.16m by 21m and 0.3m high at its southwestern corner. The island is surrounded on three sides by a moat that is wet on the east side only and measures 10-12m wide and 3m deep. The moat's southern arm has been infilled. The monument is thought to have been a hunting lodge associated with Tutbury Deer Parks. The site is known to have been occupied by Thomas Bowen in 1839. Although the monument remains unexcavated red sandstone foundations are known to lie buried on the island. All walls, fences and outbuildings are excluded from the scheduling but the ground beneath all these features is included.

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:

13504

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
Darvill, T., MPP Single Monument Class Descriptions - Moats, (1988)
SMR No 171, Staffs SMR, Woodend: Hanbury,
Snowdon, C A, AM 107, (1982)

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