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 monument is Ridge Hall moated site and annexe. It is located on a plateau
at a height of 230m above sea level. The monument includes an island
measuring c.45m x 36m upon which stands Ridge Hall. The island is surrounded
on all sides except the northwest by a moat averaging 7m wide x 1.3m deep.
This moat is waterlogged in its northeast arm and the northern end of its
southeast arm but is elsewhere dry. A short length of the southwest arm has
been infilled.
An outer bank some 8.5m wide x 0.2m high flanks the southwest arm. A causeway
gives access across the southeast arm into a grassy annexe measuring some 50m
x 60m that is bordered on three sides by a dry ditch up to 4m wide x 0.4m
deep. An outer bank c.6m wide x 0.4m high flanks this ditch.
The original house was largely destroyed during the Civil War and replaced by
the present smaller building that has 17th, 19th and 20th century additions.
Ridge Hall is a Listed Building Grade II.
Ridge Hall and its service pipes; all paths, steps and flagged areas; a
greenhouse, all walls, fences, hedges, gates and gateposts and a buried
electrical cable are all excluded from the scheduling but the ground
beneath all these features is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
13490
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
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
