Moat Farm moated site

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.

Moat Farm moated site survives reasonably well and remains largely unencumbered by modern development. It will retain evidence for the building which originally occupied the island during the medieval centuries. Additionally organic material will be preserved among the mud and silts of the waterlogged moat. Its group relationship to the ringwork and motte at Aldingham also contributes to its importance.

Details

The monument includes Moat Farm medieval moated site. It is located close to the sea shore a short distance north of Moat Hill (Aldingham motte and bailey castle, the subject of a separate scheduling) which it superseded as home of the Le Fleming family. It includes a rectangular island or platform surrounded by a waterlogged moat. The island has been raised slightly above the level of the surrounding land using the upcast from the digging of the moat, and measures approximately 32m east-west by 28m north-south. The surrounding moat measures c.13m-18m wide and 1.5m deep. The monument is thought to be the site of the medieval manor house of Michael Le Fleming, Lord of Aldingham, prior to the family's move to Gleaston Castle. All fences and railings are excluded from the scheduling but the ground beneath these features is included.

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:

27683

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Farrer, J, Brownbill, W (eds), The Victoria History of the County of Lancashire: Volume II, (1908), 556-8

Other
SMR No.2337, Cumbria SMR, Moat Farm, Aldingham, (1986)
Darvill,T., MPP Single Monument Class Description - Moats, (1989)

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