New Manor Farm 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 monument is a well preserved example of the site of a late medieval moated manor house and will retain considerable archaeological evidence of the original manor house beneath the present buildings and lawns. Additionally the waterlogged moat and well will preserve organic material.

Details

New Manor Farm moated site includes an island surrounded by a waterlogged moat. The island measures c.67m x 52m and contains New Manor farmhouse at its centre with lawns, gardens and a cobbled access drive leading from a bridge across the E arm. A second bridge crosses the W arm. A waterlogged well lies adjacent to the S of the house. The moat varies in width, averaging c.8m x 1.3m deep, but widens at all corners except the NW. There is an intermittent retaining wall up to 0.3m high lining much of the island. Building foundations are known to lie beneath the lawns and gardens. The New Manor manor house was built in 1526 for John Dutton, an illegitimate son of the Dutton family, the local landowners from the reign of King John until 1705. The house was rebuilt at an unspecified date. New Manor farmhouse, an outhouse, a timber hut, an area of sandstone blocks, all service pipes and a sewage system beneath two flagged areas in the N lawn, a wall adjoining the SW corner of the house and all fences 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:

13483

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
Mr Riley (Site Owner), To Robinson, K.D. MPPFW, (1990)
Photocopy supplied by site owner, Untitled information researched by local historian,
Darvill, T., MPP Single Monument Class Description - Moats, (1988)

End of official list entry

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