Moated site with internal pond at Glebe Farm

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 at Glebe Farm survives well and displays a wide range of features, the earthworks and internal ponds being well preserved. It retains important archaeological information concerning the construction and use of the site, including evidence of occupation in the 15th and 16th centuries. Organic materials, also, will be preserved in water logged deposits in the moat and ponds.

The monument is one of a group of moats situated in and around the parish of Dennington, and this association gives it additional interest and value.

Details

The monument includes a moated site and associated earthworks located on level ground on the southern side of Dennington village, 400m south of St Mary's Church. The moat, which is filled by surface drainage and is wet, with some open water, is up to 2.5m deep and measures between 9m and 17m in width, the eastern arm being the widest. It encloses a sub-rectangular island with maximimum internal dimensions of 94m north east - south west by 91m north west - south east, and is crossed on the north side by a narrow causeway. Immediately to the east of the causeway, the northern arm of the moat is enlarged outward to form a pond measuring 60m east - west by 38m north - south, retained by an external bank up to 0.75m in height and 5m in width. An internal fishpond of rectangular form, connected to the western arm of the moat by a sluice, has also been dug on the island. This fishpond, which still contains water at the western end, has overall dimensions of 11m north - south by approximately 31m east - west and remains open for a length of 23m. The eastern end, which has become infilled, survives as a buried feature and is marked by a distinct hollow in the ground surface.

A substantial house once stood on the island, the surface of which is raised approximately 0.75m above the external ground level. Evidence for this house includes finds of building materials, including peg tile, fragments of dressed oolite and large flints, on the surface of the interior and the field immediately surrounding the moat; pottery of 15th and 16th century date has also been recovered.

Post and wire fencing bordering the outer edge of the moat is excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath it 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:

21307

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
Birch, M & W, Suffolk SMR, notes in Parish File,

End of official list entry

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