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 at Lagham Manor includes the earthworks and enclosed area of a
particularly large and strongly embanked moated site. Such 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.
The moated site at Lagham (the name deriving from Old English Lagu-water;
ham-house) lies on Weald clay and the earthworks thrown up soon after 1262
by Sir Roger de St. John survive remarkably well, the inner and outer banks on
the south and east sides rising to a height of 7-9m above the present level of
the moat. The nearly-circular moat is interrupted on the NW and SE sides by
causeways of 19th and 17th century date respectively. A further breach in the
inner bank has been made on the SW side to enable water to escape from a small
moated ornamental garden of Post-Medieval date, and a raised boat-house
formerly spanned this breach.
Excavations at the monument between 1973 and 1978 demonstrated that remains of
buildings of pre-moat date (late 12th century) survive in addition to
structures of the Medieval and Post-Medieval periods. Of particular note was
a dump of decorated floor tiles.
At the centre of the moated enclosure are a house of 16th century origin
(listed Grade II*) and a Brew House with Oasts of late 18th century date
(listed Grade II). However, the scheduling applies only to buried remains and
earthworks, and these buildings are excluded, although the ground beneath them
and beneath the car park and road is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
12749
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
