The Grange moated site and fishpond

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 Grange moated site is well preserved and will retain archaeological information pertaining to the occupation of the site while the waterfilled ditches will also retain environmental evidence relating to the economy of its inhabitants and the landscape in which they lived.

Details

The monument at The Grange includes a rectangular moated site and fishpond situated on the flood plain of the River Chelmer 550m south-east of Waltham Hall. The moated site measures 40m SW-NE by 30m NW-SE. The arms are waterfilled and are between 5m and 12m in width and have been partly revetted with concrete. A causeway, 9m wide, gives access to the island across the eastern arm whilst a brick and concrete footbridge gives access across the western arm. An old beam, considered to be the remains of an earlier footbridge, is visible alongside the modern bridge. The island is occupied by a 17th century house with later additions which is Listed Grade II and is thought to be the original house on the site. 60m west of the moat is a waterfilled fishpond which measures 20m NE-SW by a maximum of 13m NW-SE. The pond is joined to the moat by a channel which is approximately 2m wide and is waterfilled. A modern concrete footbridge crosses the channel at the northern tip of the pond. The drainage ditches to the north-east and south of the enclosure are considered to be later drainage channels and are not part of the moated site. The house, modern footbridges, drainage tank and paths are all excluded from the scheduling, though 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:

20719

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
SMR NO; 4568, Information from SMR,

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.