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 Alderhedge Wood includes an island, moat, fishpond and
connecting channel. The island measures c.29m square and is raised up to 1m
above the surrounding land. It is wooded with a bracken and bramble
undergrowth. The island is surrounded by a waterlogged moat 10-12m wide x
1.4m deep that is part of a complex water management system which sees silted
channels on the moat's NE corner, N arm, W arm, and close to the SW and SE
corners. Outer banks exist on the W and E sides while a substantial bank c.4m
wide x 1m high flanks the S arm. Immediately S of this is a silted
channel/drain c.3m wide running parallel to the moat and connecting with the
channel close to the moat's SW corner. A waterlogged rectangular fishpond
c.34m x 20m lies immediately to the S and is connected to the channel/drain by
a short channel. A further silted channel enters the pond's E side.
The monument was constructed during the early 14th century.
All field boundaries are excluded from the scheduling, however, the ground
beneath them is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
13484
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
