Moated site west of Greystoke

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 west of Greystoke survives reasonably well, its earthworks remaining well preserved. It is largely unencumbered by modern development and will retain evidence for the building that originally occupied the island. Its location on a hillslope is unusual for this type of monument.

Details

The monument includes a medieval moated site situated in Greystoke Park on a gently sloping hillside plateau above Summerground Gill. It includes a platform or island largely surrounded by a moat, now dry, which is partly flanked by an outer bank. The island has maximum dimensions of 140m north west - south east by 82m north east - south west. On the western side of the island, a little north of centre, there is a rectangular building platform measuring approximately 25m by 20m that indicates the site of the house which originally occupied the island. Elsewhere on the island there is a series of linear drainage ditches constructed to channel water into the surrounding moat. The moat survives best on the western side and the southern half of the eastern side. At these points it measures up to 3m wide by 1.3m deep and is flanked by inner and outer banks. An outlet channel 0.5m wide is cut through the outer bank at the south east corner to allow water to drain down the steep hillslope. On the south side a small plantation partly overlies the moat and its outer bank. On the northern side a natural stream formed the northern arm of the moat while on the north east side a steep slope down to a tributary of Summerground Gill precluded the need for a moat and its flanking earthworks. Access to the island was gained by an entrance on the midpoint of the western side. All field boundaries are excluded from the scheduling but the ground beneath them 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:

23775

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
Cumbria SMR, Enclosed settlement west of Greystoke, (1987)
FMW Report, Crow, J, Enclosed settlement west of Greystoke, (1991)

End of official list entry

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