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.
Details
The monument includes the surrounding moat and internal area forming the
site of a medieval moated manor house. The internal area, on which would
have been sited the manor house itself and ancillary buildings such as
kitchens, stables and storehouses, measures 60m east-west by 30m north-south
and is a regular rectangle in plan. The surface of the moat island undulates
subtly, suggesting the presence of surviving foundations and floor areas
below the surface.
The moat, which is now largely dry owing to gradual silting up, measures
typically 12m across and has a depth of 1.4-1.6m below the level of the
surrounding ground. On the south side, where the ground rises, the moat arm
has been cut deeper to maintain an appropriate depth. A slippage of the
ground on the outer edge of the moat on the eastern side has led to the
unusual form of this arm.
The tarmac of the pavement on the north side is excluded from the
scheduling, although the ground beneath it remains included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
12856
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Other
Legal
This monument is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 as amended as it appears to the Secretary of State to be of national importance. This entry is a copy, the original is held by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
End of official list entry
