Bassmead Manor Farm moated enclosure.

Reasons for Designation

Around 6000 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 or, in some cases, which were used for horticulture. 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. Bassmead Manor moat is a fine example of a moated enclosure. The site displays a diversity of features including the upstanding remains of Bassmead Manor, a high quality listed building. Interpretation of the monument is aided by the existence of historical records.

Details

The monument includes the remains of a moated enclosure dating to the medieval period. The moat survives as a rectangular island measuring some 105m. east-west by 85 m. north-south. The island is surrounded by water filled ditches measuring some 8 m. wide draining to an outflow leat at the north-east angle. A further drain is linked to the south- west corner. The ditches have been revetted along the outer and inner south and west sides in wood and brick. An outer bank is visible along part of the western side. Entrance to the moat is on the south side and has been widened reducing the length of the south-west arm of the ditch. The interior contains the listed II* medieval Bassmead Manor House dating to the 15th century which is excluded from the scheduling, though the ground beneath it is included. The house is believed always to have been located in the north-west corner. No other contemporary earthworks are visible on the island. Most of the island is occupied by farm buildings and extensive areas of concrete yarding. The modern farmyard and farm buildings on the eastern side of the island, where archaeological remains are likely to have been extensively damaged, are excluded from the scheduling. On the western side of the island, the subsurface remains below the farm buildings are included as this area has not been extensively affected by modern building work and below ground remains are considered likely to have survived.

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:

11525

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Williams, S, The Victoria History of the County of Bedfordshire, (1912)

Other
Title: Map of Bedfordshire (1765) Source Date: 1765 Author: Publisher: Surveyor:
Re Bassmead Manor Farm moated site, (1900)

End of official list entry

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