Moor Lane moated site, Whissendine

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 monument at Whissendine comprises a substantial manorial site, with an outer bank at some distance from the moat, an unusual feature in Leicestershire moated sites. The island will hold evidence of the organisation and development of the manorial buildings referred to in 14th century documents.

Details

The moated site at Whissendine lies to the west of a trackway known as Moor Lane, or Teigh Lane, 1km north-east of the village. It is recorded as one of two moats originally linked together but the smaller moat to the south cannot be identified with certainty. The monument comprises a large rectangular moat measuring 125 x 135m, most of which is dry, with the exception of the south-east corner, and measures 20m wide and between 2-2.5m deep. The island's surface is uneven, marking the location of stone foundations of the manor house. The moat is surrounded by an outer bank, with a channel running south, possibly linking with the second recorded moat. Surrounding the site is a low outer bank less than 1m high, at a distance of some 25-35m from the main moated site. This bank is broken on the eastern side by an entrance near to the road. The site is believed to be the manor of Moorhall referred to in documents from 1306. The Moor Hall estate of Richard de Haryngton passed to the Earl of Richmond in the reign of Edward II.

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:

17010

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Hartley, R F, The Medieval Earthworks of Rutland, (1983), 47
The Rutland Magazine in The Rutland Magazine (Volume IV), Vol. IV, (1909), 5

End of official list entry

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