Lea Head 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 survives well, its earthworks being particularly evident. The site remains unencumbered by modern development and will retain considerable archaeological evidence of structural foundations associated with the building which occupied the island until c.1671.

Details

The monument comprises a moated site situated in a shallow valley and includes an island surrounded by a stream-fed waterlogged moat. The grass covered island measures c.41m x 23m, contains a few trees, and projects out of the valley slope towards the stream. The surrounding moat is c.9-12m wide x 1.5m deep and is supplied by short channels at the N and W corners connecting with a stream flowing parallel to the moat's NW arm but separated from the moat by an outer bank c.12m max. width. Access to the island is via a stone revetted causeway on the SE arm. Lea Head moated site is unexcavated and, although no structural remains are visible, is seen as the precursor of the present Lea Head Manor built c.1671 some 70m to the SE. All fences are excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath them 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:

13465

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
PRN No. 185, Lea Head, Maer,
Snowdon, C A, AM 107, (1982)
Darvill, T., MPP Single Monument Class Description - Moats, (1988)

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