Hoddesdon Park Wood moated site, Hoddesdon

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 Hoddesdon Park Wood moated site survives particularly well and is an above average example of a small rectangular Hertfordshire moat.

Details

The monument includes the well-preserved remains of a medieval moated enclosure. The enclosure is rectangular in shape measuring some 60m east-west by 55m north-south in maximum external dimensions. The partially waterfilled moat measures some 10m in width and up to 3m deep. It is fed by a stream entering the north west corner and draining out through an outflow channel at the south east angle. The moat is surrounded by low outer banks surviving up to 1m high and 4m wide. The outer bank on the north side has been levelled along an 8m wide section. Dug into part of this north outer bank are the remains of a modern artificial fox-earth. The moated site is considered to be the location of the medieval park keeper's lodge.

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:

11564

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
East Herts. Arch. Soc. in East Herts. Arch. Soc. note , (1908)

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