Moated site at Hoo Green, 290m north west of Godwin's Place

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 moated site known as Podd's Acre survives well and is unencumbered by modern building. It will retain important archaeological information, including evidence concerning its former use which will be contained in deposits on the island and in the ditch silts. The monument is close to the historically documented manorial site of Godwin's Place, also moated, and the relationship between the two will be of particular interest.

Details

The monument includes a moated site, known locally as Podd's Acre, sited on level ground approximately 1km south of the River Deben. It survives as a quadrangular island measuring approximately 76m north - south by 64m east - west, surrounded by a ditch between 7m and 9m wide and approximately 1.2m deep. A broad, dished causeway crosses the eastern arm. A slight mound in the north east corner of the island marks the site of two small cottages of clay-lump construction which stood unoccupied from the 1930s and collapsed into the adjacent ditch after the roof was removed in the 1950s. The interior surface is raised up to 0.4m above the level of the external ground surface. The moat, which was filled by surface water from ditches to the south, is silted but damp at the bottom and parts are seasonally flooded. A broad drain leads northward from an outlet at the north east corner.

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:

21298

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
Fane, A W, (1992)
J R L, NAR TM25NE2, (1973)

End of official list entry

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