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 includes a moated site, orientated north east-south west, and two
fishponds situated on the crest of a hill 500m south of Chrishall. The moated
site is rectangular, 50m north east-south west by 45m north west-south east,
with arms between 9m and 7m in width and approximately 1.5m in depth. The
south west corner of the moat has been infilled. The moat has recently dried
out in all but the north eastern arm. A concrete bridge on the north western
arm was built in 1943 and the footings of a brick built bridge are visible
across the south eastern arm. On the island is situated a 17th century house,
which is Listed Grade II, and a small outhouse. A waterpipe which supplies the
house crosses the south western arm near the northern corner of the moat. A
waterfilled fishpond lies 5m to the south of the moated site. The fishpond
which has been partly infilled, measures 22.5m north west-south east by 17m
north east-south west. Another fishpond was once situated at the northern
corner of the moat. It is now infilled but can be identified as a marshy area
17.5m north-south by 10m east-west.
The house, outhouse, swimming pool, paths, bridge, bridge footings and
waterpipe are excluded from the scheduling although the ground beneath these
features is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
20683
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
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
