Hatton Hall 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.

Hatton Hall moated site survives well and is a good example of the site of a medieval moated manor house. The moat itself survives in good condition and remains waterfilled, thus providing conditions suitable for the preservation of organic materials. Additionally remains of the earlier Hatton Hall are considered likely to survive beneath the present house and gardens.

Details

The monument comprises a moated site, the island of which is occupied by Hatton Hall, its outbuildings and gardens. The island measures c.60m x 55m and stands 0.5m above the surrounding ground surface. The hall, its access drive and outbuildings occupy much of the N half of the island with the remainder of the platform being given over to gardens and lawns. Some scarps run N-S and E-W and may reflect the layout predating the present hall. A predominantly waterlogged moat with arms up to 18-20m max. width surrounds the island. The moat widens at the NE corner while at the SW corner there is evidence of partially filled inlet/outlet channels. Access to the island is via a sandstone revetted causeway across the moat's N arm. The inner scarp of the N arm E of the causeway has been removed and replaced by sandstone terraced ornamental flowerbeds. Outer banks flank the S and E arms of the moat, the former measuring c.8m wide x 0.5m high, the latter c.6m wide x 0.3m high. The moated site dates to c.1200 when Hatton was granted to the Hattons of Hatton, near Daresbury, who established a branch of the family there in the early-mid 13th century. The hall was a quadrangular structure of timber with access via a drawbridge. The hall was replaced by the present house c.1830. The present Hatton Hall and the early 19th century sandstone revetted causeway are both Grade II Listed Buildings. Hatton Hall and its driveway, the associated outbuildings and a greenhouse, the sandstone revetting of the causeway and the sandstone terraced ornamental flowerbeds, a service pipe and its stone supporting pillars, and all walls and fences are excluded from the scheduling. The ground beneath all these features, however, 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:

13456

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Ormerod, G, History of Cheshire in History of Cheshire, Vol. 3, (1882)
Williams, S R, CAB in CAB, Vol. 6, (1978)

Other
SMR No. 1889/1/2, Hatton Hall (SMR No. 1889/1/2), (1989)
DOE, List of Buildings of Historic & Architectural Interest,
DOE, List of Buildings of Historic & Architectural Interest,
RCHME, Hatton SJ46SE4 & 12 Moat. Report and Plan at 1:1000, (1986)
SMR No. 1889/1/1, Hatton Hall (SMR No. 1889/1/1), (1989)
Darvill, T., MPP Single Monument Class Description - Moats, (1988)

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.