Shonk's Moat enclosure and fishpond

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.

Shonk's Moat is well preserved and has an unusual double island form. It is a well documented example of a later moated site which was extended in the 18th century. The interiors of the moats and the moat ditches are essentially undisturbed and will retain considerable archaeological potential.

Details

Shonk's Moat is situated approximately 2.5km east of Brent Pelham. It consists of two enclosures and a fishpond. The eastern enclosure is subrectangular in shape, is orientated north-east/south-west and measures c.95m long by c.85m wide. The arms vary between c.3m and 9m in width. Only the north-western arm remains waterlogged. The south-western enclosure is on the same alignment and measures c.95m long by c.60m wide. The arms are 6m wide and c.1m deep. A map dating from 1769 shows only the eastern enclosure which was then a nursery. The 1839 tithe map shows both enclosures indicating that the south-western enclosure was added between those two dates. On the tithe map the whole of the eastern enclosure plus the north-eastern and south- western arms of the later enclosure are shown to be waterfilled. Associated with the moat on its southern corner is an irregular shaped fishpond, very heavily silted, which is c.47m, long north-west/south-east and 17m across.

MAP EXTRACT The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

20606

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
SMR No: 070250, Information from SMR,

End of official list entry

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