Chingle 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.

The island of this site remains largely open and unencumbered by post-medieval development, hence considerable evidence of the original building which occupied the site will be preserved. Additionally waterlogged remains will survive in the moat.

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.

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:

13477

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Architects Journal in Ghostly Mystery at Moated Manor, (1986)

Other
DOE, Buildings of Special Hist & Arch Interest,
SMR NO. 1679, Lancashire SMR (No 1679), Chingle Hall, (1984)
Mr. J. Bruce (Site Owner), To Robinson, K.D. MPPFW, (1990)
Darvill, T., MPP Single Monument Class Description - Moats, (1988)

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