Carlton Hall moated enclosure and associated outer enclosure, farm buildings, dovecote, and pond

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.

Carlton Hall moated site includes a moat of unusual sub-circular form and a diversity of important features illustrating the changing use of the site over several centuries.

Details

The monument includes the well-defined remains of a sub-circular Medieval moated enclosure. The enclosure measures some 55m north-west to south-east by 65m transversely inclusive of the 10m wide surrounding moat. The southern half of the moat is surrounded by a 5m wide outer bank. Remains of a stone revetment have been revealed by animal burrows upon the moated island. In the centre of the island are the well- preserved remains of a 16th-17th century stone-built dovecote. The rectangular shaped dovecote measures some 10m by 6m with access doorways to the west and east. The moat is partially surrounded by an outer banked enclosure located immediately to the south and south-west. This enclosure is defined by a 1m high 3m wide bank enclosed by a slight outer ditch. The moated site and banked enclosure are thought to mark the site of a park keeper's house dating to around 1312. Adjacent to the north-west side of the moat are the levelled remains of farmbuildings associated with Carlton Hall, a 16th century farmhouse which superseded the moated site. Stone foundations have been recovered from this adjacent levelled area, a terrace measuring some 30m by 10m, orientated north-east to south-west. The exact site of Carlton Hall is unknown. A stone-lined pond to the east of the modern Carlton Hall Farm is thought to date to the Post Medieval Period of the monument. The pond measures some 50m by 8m but was originally some 10m longer. The modern barns adjacent to the site are excluded from the scheduling. The monument has two separate protected areas.

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:

11556

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
Turvey, MA Book B 1786 Enclosure, (1786)
Simco, A., SMR Record, (1986)
SMR Ref. 5, Taylor, C, Moat at Carlton Hall Farm, (1980)
NMR MJ 19, (1971)
Simco, A., SMR Record, (1986)

End of official list entry

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