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 moated site at Huntington Hall comprises a large slightly
irregularly shaped moat 10m wide x 2m deep surrounding a rectangular
island 165m E-W x 110m N-S internally subdivided into four enclosures.
Most moats were constructed between 1250-1350 and are general seen as
the prestigious residences of the Lords of the manor. The moat marked
the high status of the occupier but also served to deter casual raiders
and wild animals. The moat is waterlogged along most of its S arm and
the S half of its E arm with the remainder being dry or
waterlogged/silted and choked with vegetation. It drains through outlet
channels at the NW and SW corners. An outer bank encircles the moat
apart from the SE where landscaping has been undertaken. Access to the
island is via a sandstone bridge and a causeway, (both included in the
scheduling), both of which lead into the E enclosure. Two dry ditches
running N - S divide the island into enclosures with the W enclosure
containing three waterfilled fishponds complete with dams and outlet
channels. The central enclosure is further divided by a dry E-W ditch
linking the N-S ditches.
In medieval times the site was owned by the church and was referred to
in 1348 as `the grange of the abbot of Chester at Huntington'.
All fences and hedges surrounding the monument are excluded from the
scheduling. The ground beneath these features, however, is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
13416
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
