Holt's Farm 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.

Holt's Farm moated site remains largely undisturbed and will retain archaeological information relating to the occupation of the site. The ditches will retain environmental evidence pertaining to the economy of its inhabitants and the landscape in which they lived.

Details

The monument at Holt's Farm includes a moated site situated on high ground over-looking Stebbing Brook, 2.5km north of Stebbing church. It includes a quadrangular moated area which measures about 100m north-south by 50m east- west. The arms are an average of 10m in width, apart from at the south- eastern corner where the moat measures a maximum of 20m in width. Only the south-eastern corner remains waterfilled. The northern and eastern arms have been partly brick-lined. At the north-western corner is the outlet channel, a ditch 9m in length by 2.5m in width. The eastern arm has been partly infilled to form a causeway 32m, giving access to the island which is raised from the surrounding ground level by approximately 0.5m. The house which is situated on the island dates from 1650 and is Listed Grade II. The site is considered to have been the home of Thomas de la Holte in 1310. The house, watertank, shed and greenhouses are excluded from the scheduling but the ground beneath these features 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:

20692

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
1204, Information from SMR (1204),

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