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 Speke Hall, Merseyside's finest Tudor
building. The site includes an island originally some 65m square and
predominantly occupied by Speke Hall, a large timber-framed structure on a
stone base constructed around a courtyard. Surrounding the island is a moat,
now dry and much altered by landscaping, but still extant on all sides except
the SE. In its present form the moat is some 30m max. width x 2.5m
max. depth.
The N and E arms of the moat are crossed by sandstone bridges.
The earliest documentary evidence for Speke Hall is 1314. The hall was formed
into a quadrangular manor house during the 14th century and completely rebuilt
between 1490-1598. The N bridge was added c.1568. The house was owned by the
Norris family for much of its history and there is ample documentation, both
medieval and post-medieval, relating to the household and contents.
Speke Hall is a Listed Building Grade I. Both the N and E bridges are Listed
Buildings Grade II.
Speke Hall, its associated outbuildings and all service pipes; both bridges;
all paths, walls, hedges and fences; and a sewage system in the infilled SE
arm of the moat, are all 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:
13481
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
