Medieval moated site with associated fishponds, Flower Lane

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 example off Flower Lane survives remarkably well and as a result illustrates some of the diversity of component features which went to make up a moated manor complex.



The site of the monument is shown on the attached map and includes a 5 metre boundary around the archaeological features on the SE, SW and NE sides, considered essential for the monument's preservation and support.

Details

The monument off Flower Lane includes a well preserved medieval moated site with its outlet leat and a pair of rectangular depressions which are the remains of fishponds. Moated sites are generally seen as the prestigious residences of the Lords of the manor, the moat marking the high status of the occupier but also serving to deter casual raiders and wild animals. Most moats were constructed in the period either side of 1300 AD and it is to this period that the moated site off Flower Lane is likely to date.

The moat itself is square is plan and is surrounded by an earthen bank up to 1m above the surrounding field. Within the moat is a relatively small island, flat and featureless, on which would have stood the main building. Water entered the moat via the fishponds to the north-east and drained south- westwards along a leat.

To the north-east of the moated sites, the pair of fishponds survive as shallow earthworks embanked on their south-eastern sides. In addition a slight bank is visible leading north-westwards from the upper pond. These additional embankments may have served to divert excess water around the fishpond/moated site complex in times of spate. A water channel has been cut through the fishponds in recent times: sluices would formerly have controlled the flow of water through the ponds.

The concrete pipe which conducts water from the lower fishpond to the moat, together with its recent overburden, are excluded from the scheduling, as is the footpath across the site, although the ground beneath it is included.

MAP EXTRACT The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

12755

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
Dennison, E., MPP Single Monument Class Descriptions - Fishponds, (1988)
Darvill, T., MPP Single Monument Class Description - Moats, (1988)

End of official list entry

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