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 at Norbury Manor is a moated site to the N and W of which lies an
extensive system of fishponds and connecting channels. The site includes a
raised grass covered island measuring c.60m x 40m revetted all round by a fine
sandstone ashlar wall 2.4m high and surrounded by a wet moat c.14m max. width
x 4m deep. Access to the island is by a causeway on the E side. An original
and well preserved timber sluice exists within the outlet channel flowing
beneath the track close to the moat's SE corner. Adjacent to the moat's N arm
are two dry fishponds, the larger originally fed by a channel connecting with
a stream to the N and possessing a short outlet channel entering into the moat
at its NE corner. The moat is further fed by two streams entering its W arm.
The southerly of these brought water from a series of five fishponds some 150m
to the W of the moat by a complex of connecting channels, while the northerly
stream collected water from a pond flanked by a substantial bank c.80m NW of
the moat. Ralph le Botiller succeeded to the fortified manor house of Norbury
on the death of Philip Marmion in 1291. It was later sold to the Skrymshers
during the reign of Henry VIII (1509-47) and eventually demolished early in
the 19th century.
The monument is divided into three separate constraint areas. The track and a
concrete pipe above the timber outlet sluice, a corrugated shed on the island,
and all fencing and a gate are excluded from the scheduling. The ground
beneath all these features, however, is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
13471
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
