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 the moated site of the original Kinderton Hall. It includes a
large area containing a complex system of earthworks that includes two
annexes, five fishponds, a garden and prospect mound. The raised grassy
island measures c.47m x 45m. It has an undulating surface with a low raised
platform in its western half. A dry shallow moat c.10m wide x 0.5m deep
surrounds the island. To the west and north is a complex area of banks,
ditches and platforms through which runs a causeway from the west that gives
access to the island's northwest corner. A shallow waterlogged outer moat 4-
7m wide x 0.5m deep runs around the eastern and northern sides. North of this
outer moat is a grassy annexe measuring up to 120m x 50m with a shallow dry
ditch c.10m wide on its eastern side. A second grassy annexe measuring some
105m x 75m lies east of the moated site and contains low earthworks towards
its southern end and at its northwest corner. Further earthworks lie east of
this annexe. A waterlogged fishpond measuring up to 65m x 45m lies southwest
of the present Kinderton Hall. A linear set of three dry fishponds lie on the
monument's western side - the southerly one measures c.45m x 20m x 0.9m deep,
the central one measures c.45m x 25m x 0.9m deep, and the northerly one
measures c.55m x 18m x 0.9m deep. A dry fishpond some 69m x 20m x 1.5m deep
lies at the northern end of the annexe north of the moated site and is
connected to the northerly end of the linear set of fishponds by a dry channel
c.70m long x 9m wide x 0.5m deep. A prospect mound c.30m dia. x 3.5m high
lies close to the monument's southwest corner immediately east of the
southerly of the linear set of fishponds. A large grassy area to the west of
Kinderton Hall and lying south of the moated site contains a series of
earthworks comprising low banks, ditches and enclosures that originally formed
a garden.
Kinderton was mentioned in the Domesday Book when a castle existed here. It
was later succeeded by a moated hall that was occupied by the Venables family
who held the Barony of Kinderton throughout the medieval period. The hall was
demolished during the late 19th century but its foundations are known to
survive beneath the modern ground surface. The present Kinderton Hall is an
early 18th century farmhouse and a Listed Building Grade II*. It lies some
100m southeast of the moated site.
Kinderton Hall, its outbuildings, farmyard, driveways, paths, all service
pipes, field boundaries, gateposts, telegraph poles, a timber shed and a large
brick trough 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:
13492
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
