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 manorial site and associated earthworks at Moor
Hall, situated about 250m east of the Old Bourne River on the line of the
Roman road between Bishops Stortford and Baldock. The moat is at the west end
of the site. To the north and the north-east is an enclosure on the same
alignment as the moat. To the east and to the south are associated
earthworks, running into the woods to the east where there are also four
fishponds.
The rectangular-shaped moat encloses an island which measures 45m north-south
by 39m east-west. The moat arms are dry and are at maximum 5m wide and c.1m
deep. Around the inside of the moat arms is a bank 6m to 10m wide and between
0.6m and 1m high. An entrance causeway, approximately 8m wide, is situated on
the eastern side of the moat.
Within the south-west corner of the moat is an irregularly-shaped fishpond.
It measures about 20m north-south by 15m east-west and now merges into the
western arm of the moat.
To the north of the moat are earthworks on the same alignment, and of similar
dimensions, which are interpreted as belonging to an associated enclosure,
although the extent of the earthworks within the woods has not been surveyed
in detail; a pond within the woods may represent the eastern arm of this
enclosure. The southern arm of this enclosure has become infilled over the
years and is no longer visible on the surface.
To the south of the moat is a curved bank which follows the line of the
southern moat arm running into the earthworks to the east. This is thought to
have been adapted later to form a trackway some 20m wide.
To the east of the moat and extending into the woods are earthworks on the
same alignment as the moat. These include a series of ditches and four
fishponds. One, located in the north-west corner of the wood, measures 30m
north-south by 10m east-west and is seasonally waterfilled. The other three
are situated in the south-eastern corner of the wood and are all waterfilled.
The smallest is aligned east-west and measures 20m by 4m. 3m east of this
pond is another, aligned north-south, which is 45m by 7m. The third of the
group is located 12m north of the small pond and measures 41m east-west by 15m
north-south. Other earthworks are visible but remain difficult to interpret
until the wood is cleared and a full survey is conducted.
The monument is identified as the manorial site of Moor Hall which is recorded
from the late 13th century when it was held as part of the main manor of
Ardeley.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
20647
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals 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
