Kimberworth Manor moated site

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.

Kimberworth moated site was the centre of an important medieval manor whose historical context is well-documented. Also notable is its close association with the earlier manor site at Kimberworth motte and bailey castle. Partial excavation of the site has established the survival in situ of substantial medieval manorial remains. Extensive areas remain unexcavated, however, and the archaeological potential of the site, despite some disturbance due to later building, is considerable.

Details

The monument comprises the moated site of Kimberworth Manor. It includes a complex of medieval stone buildings, located around the present building by partial excavations undertaken between 1975 and 1980 by Rotherham Archaeo- logical Society, and also the moat which formerly surrounded this complex. The present house, which is a Grade II Listed Building and is excluded from this scheduling, is basically seventeenth century but includes some medieval remains. One of the buildings located in the immediate vicinity of this building was an aisled hall. Other building remains are interpreted as an earlier manor house. To the north-west of the present house, the remains of a medieval building are still evident incorporated into a boundary wall. The infilled moat was identified as running parallel with the modern boundary. In the Middle Ages the manor was part of the Honour of Tickhill and, after the Norman Conquest, was held by Roger de Busli whose descendents retained it until the mid or late thirteenth century. Some time before this, de Busli's family abandoned the original motte and bailey castle at Kimberworth for the site of the present Kimberworth manor, 250m downslope to the south. From c.1300 the site was the principal residence of Idonea de Vipont. A large deerpark was once associated with the site but is now obscured by later development. All buildings, modern features, modern walls, hedging and surfaces of paths, driveway and car-park are excluded from the scheduling. The ground underneath, however, 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:

13225

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Addy, S O, The Hall of Waltheof, (1893), 183
Guest, J, Historical Notices of Rotherham, (1879), 586
Hunter, J, South Yorkshire , (1831), 26-28

End of official list entry

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