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 Newborough Hall moated site, a millpond, two fishponds and
connecting channels. The moated site has a grassy island some 63m square
which is surrounded by a moat 10-20m wide by 1.8m deep that is waterlogged on
all sides except the north-east and a short length of the north-west arm close
to the northern corner. An outer bank c.8m wide by 1.3m high flanks much of
the south-east arm. Adjacent to the southern corner of the moat is a
sub-rectangular waterlogged millpond measuring some 42m by 32m that is flanked
on its north-east side by an outer bank c.4m wide and 0.3m high. A dry
fishpond measuring up to 25m by 10m and 0.5m deep lies parallel to the moat's
north-east arm some 20m to the east. It is flanked on its northern side by an
outer bank 4.5m wide and 0.2m high. The pond was fed by an inlet channel 4m
wide by 20m long that enters the northern side, while an outlet channel 4m
wide by 10m long carried water into a second pond measuring up to 15m by 7m
and 0.5m deep that is now mutilated on its south side by a stream.
The brick and concrete foundations on the outer bank flanking the south-east
arm, all field boundaries, and all walls are excluded from the scheduling
although the ground beneath all these features is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
13505
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
