Moated site 70m south of Long Plantation, Hanslope Park

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 small moated site 70m south of Long Plantation survives intact as a good example of its class with no evidence of any disturbance. The monument will contain archaeological material relating to the occupation of the site while environmental evidence pertaining to the landscape in which the monument was constructed is likely to survive in the ditch fills.

Details

The monument includes a small but well defined moated site situated on a gentle south-east facing hillslope. The moated enclosure is rectangular in shape with overall dimensions of 40m north-east to south-west by 26m north-west to south-east and remains in part water-filled. The north-west arm of the moat is wider than the other three averaging 10m wide and 1.6m deep and has rounded ends. The remaining sides are more uniform and regular in shape averaging 5m wide and 1.5m deep. The central platform of the moat measures some 20m by 12m, has a flat undisturbed surface and appears level with the surrounding natural landsurface. A small stream supplies water to the moat feeding in at the north-west corner.

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:

19084

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
Card no 0356,

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