Moated site at Ingarsby

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 moat at Ingarsby is of unusual circular shape. It survives in good condition and has considerable potential for the preservation of archaeological remains within the raised interior of the island.

Details

The monument at Ingarsby known as `Monk's Grave' is a moated site and is situated on high ground 1km north of the village of Houghton-on-the-Hill. The moated site is sub-circular in shape and approximately 50m in diameter with a surrounding ditch 8-12m wide and up to 2m deep. The moat island forms a raised platform about 1m above ground level. The moat is currently dry and contains a spring on the eastern side. On the north-eastern side there is an outer bank 4m wide and 1.5m high which terminates 5m from a field boundary, and indicates the position of an entrance.

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:

17057

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Hoskins, W G, Transactions of the Leicestershire Arch & Historical Society in Seven Deserted Village Sites in Leicestershire (Volume 32), Vol. 32, (1956), 46-7
Jarvis, P, Transactions of the Leicestershire Arch and Historical Society in A Sherd of Iron Age or Roman Pottery from Hungarton, Vol. 59, (1985), 91

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