The Ryes moated site

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

Details

The monument known as The Ryes includes a rectangular moated site situated on a south-east facing slope, overlooking the Pincey Brook, 2km north-west of Hatfield Broad Oak church. The moated site measures 80m north-south by a maximum of 72m east-west. The eastern moat arm is waterfilled and measures 8m in width. The southern and western arms are visible as slight depressions measuring between 4m and 8m in width and between 0.4m and 1m in depth. The northern arm is no longer visible at ground level but is preserved as a buried feature. An internal bank, 1m wide and approximately 0.6m high, runs along the inside of the western arm, whilst a brick wall, considered to be 16th century in date, runs parallel with the southern arm. The large irregular-shaped pond situated to the north-west of the moat is not considered to have been part of the moated site. A pond which was once situated to the south-west of the moat has been infilled and is no longer visible at ground level. Neither of these ponds are included in the scheduling. The Ryes was the site of the manor house of the Chamberlaynes and the house was demolished in c.1864.

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:

20724

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
SMR No: 4312, Information from SMR,

End of official list entry

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