Upper Lyveden 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.

Upper Lyveden moat lies in an unusual position on a hillside and illustrates the wide range of variation in the topographical setting of monuments of this type. The site is well preserved and largely undisturbed with partially waterlogged ditches and therefore has both archaeological and environmental potential.

Details

This moated site lies to the north east of Lyveden Manor and is sited upon the higher slopes of the valley. The moat island is about 25m square and is surrounded by a flat bottomed ditch up to 2m deep which varies between 10m and 20m in width. Water for the moat ditches was supplied both by seepage down the hill side and by a spring. A bank about 2m high assisted water retention in the ditch on the south eastward, downhill side, and the widest ditch on the south east is still partially waterlogged. Around the site medieval pottery, including St Neots ware, has been found. The moat is historically documented as being a prestigious residence which was closely associated with the two fishponds and ploughed earthwork remains of the medieval village to the west. Finds nearby have included remains of kilns, and considerable quantities of medieval pottery. Both the fishponds and earthworks have been much altered and severely degraded by ploughing and are therefore excluded from the scheduling.

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:

13634

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Royal Commission on Historical Monuments of England, , Archaeological Sites in North East Northamptonshire , (1975), 73-4

End of official list entry

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