Moated site and fishponds 500m SE of Eaton

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 moated site of Rushton Hall survives well and remains virtually unencumbered by modern development. The site retains considerable archaeological potential for the recovery of evidence of the structural remains of two known building phases of Rushton Hall.

Details

The monument comprises a moated site, considered to be the site of Rushton Hall medieval mansion house, and associated fishponds. The site includes a grassy island measuring c.55m x 36m surrounded on three sides by a dry moat 9- 10m max. width x 1.5m deep. An outer bank 10m x 0.5m max. flanks the NW and SW arms of the moat. Adjacent to the SW side of the island is a dry fishpond flanked on its W and S sides by an extension of the outer bank. A second fishpond surrounds the NW and NE sides of the site. This pond is flanked by an outer bank along the W part of its N side. The medieval house of Rushton Hall was rebuilt in the 17th century and held by the Hinton family. It was sold in 1864 and today there is no trace of any building on the level island. All field boundaries are excluded from the scheduling, however, the ground beneath them 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:

13460

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
Capstick, B., FMW Report, (1987)
Williams, S.R., Treasure No. 4./A169/, (1976)
SMR No. 1035/1/1, Cheshire SMR, Moated Site 500m SE of Eaton (Rushton Hall), (1989)
Dennison, E., MPP Single Monument Class Descriptions - Fishponds, (1988)
Dennison, E., MPP Single Monument Class Descriptions - Fishponds, (1988)
Pagination 7, Dennison, E., MPP Single Monument Class Descriptions - Moats, (1988)

End of official list entry

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