Moated site with fishponds at Evington

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.

The moated site at Evington is one of the best surviving examples of this type of site in Leicestershire. It has rare association with several large fishponds, and good documentary evidence regarding its historical beginings.

Details

The moated site at Evington, known locally as `Piggy's Hollow', is a substantial earthwork including a moat and fishponds and lies to the south of the village and west of the church. The rectangular moat island is approximately 65 x 25m, with ditches up to 20m wide and 3m deep on the north, east and south sides. The moat was originally fed by a spring from the north and water is still contained in the northern and eastern arms. Part of a raised trackway on the eastern side of the moat marks the original access point, leading directly to the church. On the south western side of the moat, the ditch has been enlarged to form a fishpond 75m long with surrounding banks 1m high. Ridge and furrow within the moat extension indicates that the fishpond was later drained and used for cultivation. A further fishpond lies to the west of this which is 80 x 25m and not joined to the moat. The curved banks of a third fishpond measuring 75m long are situated to the south. Documentary evidence indicates that the moat was built by John de Grey, or his son Henry, in the 13th century. A document dated 1308 lists the site as containing the manor house, gardens, and ponds.

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:

17026

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Hartley, R F, The Medieval Earthworks of Central Leicestershire, (1989), 50, 54
Liddle, P, Leicestershire Archaeology: The Present State of Knowledge, (1982), 32/3

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

Print the official list entry