Rodbaston Old Hall moated site and fishpond

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.

Despite infilling of the outer moat and some scrub and tree growth on the island the monument survives in a relatively good condition. Considerable evidence of the buildings which originally occupied the island will survive in addition to which organic remains will survive in the waterlogged moat.

Details

The monument is the manorial moated site of Rodbaston Old Hall together with a dry fishpond and earthwork features to the N. The extant remains of the monument include a largely scrub and tree covered raised island c.73m square containing an internal bank around three sides that measures 2.4m max.height at the S corner. Surrounding the island is a waterlogged moat c.8m wide x 1.5m deep with a causeway on the SW arm. The island was originally double moated, although the outer moat has been infilled at an unspecified date. To the N of the moat is a dry fishpond measuring c.60m x 19m x 0.6m deep with traces of a similar rectangular earthwork to its SW. The manorial status of Rodbaston was linked to the hereditary forestership of Cannock. All fences and a drain at the N end of the fishpond are excluded from the scheduling. The ground beneath these features, however, is included.

MAP EXTRACT The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

13474

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
Sharyane, Letter to Robinson, K.D. MPPFW, (1990)
Dennison, E., MPP Single Monument Class Descriptions - Fishponds, (1988)
Darvill, T., MPP Single Monument Class Description - Moats, (1988)
PRN NO. 107, Staffordshire SMR, Rodbaston Old Hall: Penkridge,

End of official list entry

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