Fenwick Hall moated site

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.

Fenwick Hall is particularly notable for its unusual form and size, which suggest it was a medieval manorial site of some importance. Organic and palaeoenvironmental material will be preserved in the moat and the west half of the island in particular contains largely undisturbed deposits. In addition, the remains of the earlier manorial complex underlie the standing buildings on the island, which include an 18th century manor house.

Details

Fenwick Hall moated site, traditionally linked with the Foliot family, is one of a close knit group in the Fenwick region. It consists of a wedge shaped island with rounded ends, measuring c.110m to north and south, c.40m to the west and c.70m to the east. Surrounding it is a partially water-filled moat c.10m across but widening considerably at the corners. At the north-east corner the moat now forms a right-angled pond. The east arm of the moat has largely disappeared, buried beneath later farm buildings which include a Grade II listed barn and attached outbuildings. The moat is now crossed by three causeways: two to the north and one to the south; the southern coinciding with a projection off the moat and having the appearance of a filled-in fishpond. The north-eastern, however, is thought to overlie an original feature since it gives access to the existing manor-house which is Grade II listed. Ditches entering the moat at its north-east and north-west corners, from the direction of the River Went, were formerly inlet and outlet channels which fed water to and from the moat. The fields around the site contain ridge and furrow and other earthworks, the latter indicating the former existence of a village associated with the site. These external remains are not sufficiently well understood to be included in this scheduling. Excluded from the scheduling are all buildings, modern structures, and features and the surfaces of paths, yard and drives. The ground underneath, however, is included.

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:

13229

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Le Patourel, H E J, Moated site of Yorkshire, (1973)
Magilton, J, The Doncaster District, (1977)

End of official list entry

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