Clayton Hall 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.

Despite the loss of archaeological deposits from the surrounding moat Clayton Hall moated site survives well. Evidence of the earlier building phases of Clayton Hall will survive on the island as will further remains of the late 14th/early 15th century chapel.

Details

The monument is the moated site of Clayton Hall. It includes the rectangular
island which measures c.66m by 74m upon which stands the present Clayton Hall.
Access to the island is by a late medieval twin-arched stone bridge across the
moat's south-eastern arm.
Clayton was the seat of the Byron family from the late 12th to the early 17th
century, after which it passed through various families. It was the
birthplace of Humphrey Chetham, founder of Chetham's School. A late
14th/early 15th century chapel stood at the island's north-west corner until
the beginning of the 18th century and fragments of the masonry have been found
on the island from time to time. During the 15th century building expansion
took place and Clayton Hall is thought to have been quadrangular or of three
wings at this time. This hall was largely demolished and a new house built
during the 17th century. Additions to the hall were made in the 18th century
and in 1900 the house was largely restored. The late medieval bridge replaced
an earlier timber structure and was widened at the turn of the 19th century.
Clayton Hall is a Listed Building Grade II*.
Clayton Hall and its outbuildings, the bridge, all service pipes, paths,
driveways, fences, stone gateposts, a stone mounting block, ornamental stone
posts, and the works compound and its associated buildings in the island's
north-eastern corner are all excluded from the scheduling, although the ground
beneath these features is included. The surrounding moat, which has been
scoured out and concrete lined, is not included in the scheduling.

MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

22448

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Farrer, W, Brownbill, J, The Victoria History of the County , ()
Farrer, W, Brownbill, J, The Victoria History of the County , ()
Farrer, W, Brownbill, J, The Victoria History of the County , ()
Tindall, A S, Country Houses of Greater Manchester in The Moated House, (1985)

Other
SMR No. 1428/1/0, Gt Manchester SMR, Clayton Hall, (1989)
DOE, List of Buildings of Historic & Architectural Interest,
Darvill, T, MPP Single Monument Class Descriptions - Moats, (1989)
Hales, S. (Parks Manager, Man City Council), To Robinson, K.D., (1992)

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