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.
Details
The monument at Pigot's Farm includes a sub-rectangular moated site and
fishpond situated on a south-facing slope, 500m south of St Nicholas' Church,
Elmdon. The moated site measures 65m east-west by a maximum of 50m north-
south. The arms are seasonally waterfilled by land drains and are between 6m
and 10m in width and 1.7m in depth. A modern causeway, 5m wide, gives access
to the island at the north-west corner of the moat. A footbridge which once
crossed the southern arm of the moat has decayed. The island is occupied by a
Grade II* Listed house which dates from 1655 and is thought to be the original
dwelling on the site.
At the south-east corner of the moat is a sub-rectangular, waterfilled
fishpond which measures 11m NW-SE by a maximum of 10m NE-SW.
The name Pigot first occurs as Picot and then Pygot in 1285.
The house is excluded from the scheduling though the ground beneath it is
included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
20722
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals Other
Legal
This monument is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 as amended as it appears to the Secretary of State to be of national importance. This entry is a copy, the original is held by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
End of official list entry
