Moated site at Foliejon Park

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, relatively few survive in Berkshire. This example is of particular importance as it survives well as an example of a small moated site and has potential for the recovery of archaeological remains.

Details

The monument includes a rectangular moated site aligned east-west and situated 50m north of Home Farm. The site is visible as an earthwork, surviving in the form of a raised area with external dimensions of 55m by 50m. The moat is dry but survives to a width of c.17m and a depth of 0.7m. Only three arms are now visible. The fourth (southern) arm is thought to lie under the approach road to Home Farm. The interior measures c.20m east-west but contains no traces of any structure. To the north of the moat and running parallel to the northern arm is an outer bank. This survives to a height of between 1 and 2m and a width of 17m.

MAP EXTRACT The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract. It includes a 2 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:

12032

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
The Victoria History of the County of Berkshire: Volume III, (1923), 86

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

End of official list entry

Print the official list entry