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 is the moated site of Chingle Hall and includes a
slightly raised rectangular island measuring c.44m x 40m upon which stands
Chingle Hall, its lawns and ornamental bushes. A tree-lined waterlogged moat
7-9m wide flanks the W side and much of the S side of the island, extending
c.10m in a SW direction at the SW corner. The N arm of the moat is now formed
by a shallow brook that runs through a cutting c.9m wide x 2m deep. The E arm
has been infilled while the SE corner has been drained. A recent
archaeological excavation close to the island's SE corner has been left open
and is now infilled by water. The hall is approached across the moat's S arm
by a brick built bridge with pitched stone copings.
Chingle Hall first appears by name in 1354. The present building is of early
17th century date, extended in the 19th century and altered in the 20th
century.
Chingle Hall and its bridge is a Listed Building Grade II.
Chingle Hall and its bridge, a sewage system on the island close to the NW
corner, a cobble path E of the hall, and all fences and hedges 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:
13477
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals 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
