Moated site north east of Oldfield 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.

The moated site at Oldfield Farm survives well and is a good example of a moated site largely unencumbered by modern development. Organic material will be preserved within the wet south western moat arm and this will provide information regarding the environment and economy of the site's inhabitants. Structural and artefactual evidence for the buildings and structures that originally occupied the moated island will survive beneath the ground surface.

Details

The monument is situated in a relatively isolated context 50m north east of Oldfield Farm and includes a moated site. The moated site has external dimensions of 68m north west-south east and 58m north east-south west and forms a projecting platform in a south facing slope. The moat arms are up to 13m wide and approximately 2m deep. The north eastern arm of the moat is partly waterfilled, while the north western and south eastern arms are now dry. The western corner of the moat has been infilled and is partly overlaid by the outbuildings of Oldfield Farm, but will survive as a buried feature and is included in the scheduling. The south western moat arm is thought to have been modified and now extends southwards to form a pond area. The original cut of the moat arm will survive as a buried feature in the floor of the pond and is included in the scheduling. The moated island has an uneven surface and the ground rises towards its centre. The outbuildings of Oldfield Farm, situated in the western corner of the site, the surfaces of the paths and driveway and all fence posts are excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath these features 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:

21580

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
Ordnance Survey, SP 26 NW 5,

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