Moated site south of The Hall

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 moated site at Newbold Verdon survives in good condition despite infilling of one arm of the moat. The moat island will contain evidence of the development of the manor house and associated buildings.

Details

The moated site at Newbold Verdon is situated on the western edge of the village less than 100m from St James's Church. A post-medieval hall is situated a few metres to the north of the site.

The moated area measures 90 x 100m overall and encloses a square island measuring 65 x 65m on the west, south and east sides with an infilled northern arm. The three arms of the moat are an average of 10m wide and are mostly water-filled with the exception of the northern parts of the western and eastern arms. The outer bank on the southern and western sides is up to 1m high and 6-8m wide.

A small excavation in 1981 suggested that the northern infilled arm was still in existence when the hall to the north was built for Nathaniel Crew, 3rd Baron Crew of Stene, Bishop of Durham in about 1680. Finds of medieval roof tile indicate the remains of a manor house located within the island.

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:

17062

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Harding, M, Transactions of the Leicestershire Arch and Historical Society in Excavation of the Moated Site at Newbold Verdon, Vol. 56, (1981)

End of official list entry

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