Moat at Lea Meadows

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 site at Lea Meadows, Ulverscroft survives well and is an important example of a moat in a well documented area of forest clearance.

Details

The monument is situated in the granite uplands north-west of Leicester and includes a moated site with associated drainage channels.

The rectangular moated area measures approximately 75 x 85m in overall dimensions and is divided into two parts by the former course of a stream, which currently flows on the eastern side of the site. The western half of the moated area is composed of a large rectangular island measuring 35 x 85m. The eastern half of the area is of similar dimensions but divided to form two islands each measuring 40 x 35m. The moat arms have been partly infilled, particularly the western arm, the remainder measuring about 0.5m deep. An external bank measuring 0.5m high lies on the north-west side of the site. To the south of the moated area is a complex system of interconnecting water channels and enclosures which are an integral part of the site.

Lea Meadows together with Lea Wood, was meadow land, first mentioned in 1287. It was cleared from the forest to enclose 100 acres. The land was held by the manor of Groby and not Ulverscroft.

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:

17098

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Lea Meadows, ()

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.