Moated site at Burnhill Green

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 survives well and is unencumbered by modern development. The moated site will retain structural and artefactual evidence for the environment and economy of its inhabitants.

Details

The monument includes a moated site situated 140m north-west of the Dartmouth Arms public house in Burnhill Green. The island within the moat measures approximately 28m square and is raised by more than 1m above the surrounding ground surface. Ex situ sandstone blocks are evident on the moated island and faced stone has been exposed by tree roots on its northern edge. Three sides of the moat are visible on the ground surface and the eastern arm has been infilled but will survive as a buried feature. The moat is up to 8m wide and 2m deep and is waterlogged at the north-western corner. The western arm of the moat projects northwards slightly. There are traces of an external bank on the western arm of the moat. The fence posts on the monument are excluded from the scheduling but the ground beneath these features is included.

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:

21523

Legacy System:

RSM

End of official list entry

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