Moated site at Winkfield Lane

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 and has a good range of features. There is also high potential for the recovery of structural remains and archaeological features as the site survives in an area of undisturbed grassland.

Details

The monument includes a sub-rectangular moated site 125m NNE of Maidens Green Farm. The moat is aligned NW-SE and has maximum external dimensions of 130m and 100m respectively, although now clearly defined on only three sides. The northern arm of the moat is indicated by the hedge-line while the western arm is defined by ponds west of the road. Where the moat can be traced it survives to a width of 12m and a depth of up to 1m. An external bank to the south of the monument survives to a width of 10m and a height of 0.5m. Beyond the moat on the eastern side is an additional and possibly earlier enclosure c.75m by 35m in size. The interior of the monument has maximum dimensions of 70m square. A building stood on the site until 1920 and a brick wall and area of rubble indicate its location. The road is excluded from the scheduled monument which is thus represented by two constraint areas.

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:

12033

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

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

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