Little London moated site and surrounding earthwork enclosures, Kings Langley

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.

This monument exhibits good earthwork survival both of the moat and its surrounding enclosures. It has a special significance through its connection with the Royal Palace of King's Langley.

Details

The monument includes a sub-rectangular moated site and a series of outer enclosures. The moat is aligned east-west and has maximum external dimensions of 120m. east-west and 60m. north-south. The moat island contains a slight mound and hollow on the western side and there is a causeway on the same side. The moat is approximately 12m. wide and 1.5m deep and is dry except for the southern arm which is slightly marshy. The eastern arm of the moat has been filled in. The internal mound and hollow appear to mark the position of an earlier lodge belonging to the Royal Park of the King's Langley Estate and dating to the 14th century. There are no other standing structures in the moat today. The outer enclosures appear as low earthworks mainly to the north of the moat, and may be the remains of ancillary buildings or horticultural earthworks contemporary with the moat.

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:

11516

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Cal. Pat., 1307-13, (), 453
The Victoria History of the County of Hertfordshire: Volume II, (1908), 120

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