Moated site 500m north-west of Nabals 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. 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.

Although a large number of moated sites are known in England, relatively few survive in Wiltshire. This example is particularly important as it survives well and has high potential for the recovery of archaeological remains. Archaeological documentation is good; part excavation in 1908 having revealed the foundations of a building and what was believed to be contemporary pottery.

Details

The monument includes a square moated site 500m WNW of Nabals Farm. The site is orientated north-south and has maximum external dimensions of c.50m square. The moat is seasonally water-filled and survives to a width of 15m and a maximum depth of 1.5m. An outer bank is visible around the site but survives to its best on the southern and western arms where it stands to a height of 0.7m. The moat surrounds a level island of between 30 and 40m square. Partial excavations in 1908 revealed the foundations of a building and pottery.

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:

12066

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
Dennison, E and Darvill, T, HBMC Monument Class Description - Moats, 1988,
Passmore and Henslow,

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