Reaseheath moated site and two annexes

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 in good condition and remains largely unencumbered by modern development. Evidence of the medieval homestead that originally occupied the island will be preserved.

Details

The monument is Reaseheath medieval moated homestead. The site includes an island surrounded on three sides by a dry moat with annexes to the north and east. The grassy island measures c.55m x 43m and is surrounded on all sides except the south by a shallow dry moat 10-20m wide x 0.8m maximum depth. Immediately north of the moat is a grassy annexe c.42m x 19m flanked on its side by a hollow way up to 20m wide x 1.2m deep. Immediately east of the moat is a second larger, grassy annexe, measuring some 90m x 60m. Flanking this annexe is a ditch up to 15m wide x 0.5m deep that is largely dry. All fences are excluded from the scheduling but the ground beneath them 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:

13493

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
To Robinson, K.D. MPPFW, Mr Bishop (Cheshire College of Agriculture), (1991)
SMR No.1 190/1, Cheshire SMR, Reaseheath Moat, (1988)
Pagination 5, Darvill, T., MPP Single Monument Class Descriptions - Moats, (1988)
Sortie No. CPE UK 1935, RAF, (1947)

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.