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 includes a moat, its internal area and also a platform and
shallow ditch to the south west. The whole area forms the site of the manor
house of Ifield Court which was superseded by the present building to the east
of the moated site.
The moat island is nearly rectangular and measures 75m NW-SE by some 60m SW-
NE. On this area the remains of the manor house itself and ancillary
buildings such as a kitchen, stables and storehouses are considered likely to
survive. The moat around the island averages 12m in width and is crossed by a
modern bridge near its north-east corner.
To the south is a raised platform 40m by 30m which forms an extension to the
moat island. The moat formerly continued around this platform and is still
detectable as a marshy area and as a pond in the southernmost point of the
monument, although it has been infilled to the north-west of the pond to ease
access to the platform area.
The footings and structure of both bridges onto the moat island and the pens
at the northern corner of the island are excluded from the scheduling,
although the ground beneath remains included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
12884
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
