Round About Moat, Arksey

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.

Round About moat, Arksey, is a good example of a well-preserved moated site unencumbered by post-medieval structures. It is therefore anticipated that extensive remains of the buildings which formerly occupied the island will survive. Additionally, organic and palaeoenvironmental material will also be preserved in the waterlogged moat.

Details

The monument is a small moated site comprising a rectangular island c.30m x 50m surrounded by a wet moat crossed by a causeway near the centre of the north side. The extension of the moat evident at its north east corner represents an integral fishpond. The surface of the island is grass-covered and no evidence of the buildings which formerly occupied the site are visible on the surface. The existence of stonework below the present ground surface however, has been indicated by probing. In addition, 14th and 15th century pottery sherds have been found in mole upcasts on the island. Excluded from the scheduling is a telegraph pole and its stays, although the ground underneath is included.

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:

13217

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Le Patourel, H E J, The Moated Sites of Yorkshire, (1973)
Magilton, J, The Doncaster District, (1977)

End of official list entry

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