Medieval moated site, The Mounts, Pachesham Farm

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 or, in some cases, which were used for horticulture. 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. The 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 in The Mounts is of particular importance because it is sited, unusually, on a rise rather than on low ground, thereby illustrating some of the diversity, of this class of monument. It is also well documented both historically and archaeologically as a result of small-scale excavations, and the unexcavated area has been shown to be of high archaeological potential.

Details

The moated site at The Mounts includes a levelled platform on which buildings have been shown to have stood but also the earthworks which surround the platform, these comprising a complete circuit of moat and a length of embanking on the north-east side. Although no moat is visible on the steeply sloping south-east side, an area beyond the edge of the platform is included since excavation has demonstrated that a shallow moat does survive in this area too. 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. Excavation has shown that, like most moated sites, the example in The Mounts was used in the later 13th century. It has also been shown, however, that an earlier building had occupied the site, around which the moat was dug during the 13th century. The moated site in The Mounts was short-lived: historical records show that by 1343 the manor was of little value, and by 1386 the main building had already been dismantled. The platform itself forms a rough oval in shape, and measures 45m by 30m. The slight moat on the south side has been obscured by soil creep from above, but it becomes more visible towards the north and reaches a maximum width of 21m. The unusual siting of the moat leaves a natural outer bank which is enhanced on the north-east side by an additional earthen bank 25m long and 4m wide.

MAP EXTRACT The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract. It includes a 5 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:

12748

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Lowther, A, Proc Leatherhead Dist Local Hist Soc in Interim Reports On Excavations At Pachesham, Vol. 1.1-1.3, (1947)
Lowther, A, Renn, D, Ruby, A, Surrey Arch. Soc. Collections in Pachenesham, Leatherhead, Vol. 74, (1983), 1-45

Other
Darvill, T., MPP Single Monument Class Descriptions - Moats, (1988)
Surrey Antiquity 133,

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