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 is the moated site of Swineyard Hall. It includes an island
measuring c.38m square upon which stands Swineyard Hall. Surrounding the
island are three arms of a waterlogged moat preserved as a stone and
brick-lined ornamental pond with a width ranging from 6m across the western
arm to 14m across the eastern arm by 0.4m deep to the water level. The
southern arm has been infilled and a cobbled yard now occupies this area. A
modern timber footbridge gives pedestrian access across the northern arm close
to its north-western corner and replaced a drawbridge known to have existed
until the 1920s. Between the moat's northern arm and Swineyard Lane is an
area of lawn beneath which, at a depth of c.0.5m, are areas of cobbling and
structural foundations.
In the early 14th century the hamlet of Swineyard became the residence of a
branch of the Legh family. Swineyard Hall is late 16th century with 19th-
century additions and is a Listed Building Grade II*.
Swineyard Hall and outbuilding, all service pipes, walls, railings, fences,
telegraph poles, the timber bridge and the yard are excluded from the
scheduling; the ground beneath all these features, however, is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
13502
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
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
