Bailey Hall moated site, fishponds and chantry of St John the Baptist.

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.

The moated site at Bailey Hall survives well, the earthworks being particularly evident. Also of particular note is the unusual survival of a chapel within the moated enclosure. Indeed this is the only moated site in Lancashire known to have contained a parochial chapel.

Details

The monument at Bailey Hall is a well preserved dry moat surrounding a platform upon which is located the late 16th century Bailey Hall, an adjacent outbuilding, access road and garden, and the ruins of the Chantry of St John the Baptist. Two hollows to the W of the moated enclosure are interpreted as fishponds. Bailey Hall, the chapel ruins and an adjacent barn are all listed grade II. Bailey Hall was the manor house of the Cliderours in the 13th century. The moat survives in almost perfect condition on the E and W sides but has been partly infilled on the S. On the N side there is a short length of moat surviving at the NE corner. A prominent outer bank exists along the E and NE sides with a gap in the centre of the E side. E of this gap is a low oval mound. A low inner bank exists at the NE corner of the island. The ruins of the early 14th century chapel of St John the Baptist stand to the N of Bailey Hall. The N and E wall of this chapel survive to a max. height of 1.7m. Bailey Hall, its outbuilding and connecting wall, the E end of the access road, and all fencing on the monument is excluded from the scheduling. The ground beneath all these features, 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:

13423

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Newdigate, Rev C A, Cheetham, F H, Historical Society of Lancashire and Cheshire in The Chantry Of St John The Baptist At Bailey, Vol. LXVIII, (1916), 161
Newdigate, Rev C A, Cheetham, F H, Historical Society of Lancashire and Cheshire in The Chantry Of St John The Baptist At Bailey, Vol. LXVIII, (1916), 151
Newdigate, Rev C A, Cheetham, F H, Historical Society of Lancashire and Cheshire in The Chantry Of St John The Baptist At Bailey, Vol. LXVIII, (1916), 163

Other
Darvill, T., MPP Single Monument Class Descriptions - Moats, (1988)
Lancs. SMR PRN 1025,

End of official list entry

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