Moated site at Hinton Farm

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 moated site at Hinton Farm survives well and will contain archaeological information and environmental evidence relating to the moated site and the landscape in which it was constructed. There is documentary evidence for the site and related earthworks nearby.

Details

The monument includes a moated site lying on a sand and gravel outcrop on the edge of the Dorset downs where they meet the Somerset Levels. The moated site, aligned north east-south west includes a central flat area in the form of an irregular square c.85m by c.90m surrounded by a moat. A depression in the north east part of the central area 24m long, 5m wide and 0.5m deep has been interpreted as a fishpond. The depression indicating the position of the moat can be seen at all points except the north west corner where it is infilled and has farm buildings standing on it. The moat is c.2m deep and varies in width from 9.5m at the top to 4.4m at the bottom. It is recorded that this was a manorial site, the manor being held by the Dauney family from Cornwall which married into the Courtney family in the 14th century. Until that time it was leased to William de Muleborne, a sheriff. The Courtneys used the manor as a stopping off point from their home in Exeter. The manor remained in the Courtney family until 1559 when it was confiscated, by which time it was in a state of disrepair. Within the vicinity of the moated site are medieval settlement earthworks c.120m to the NNW and the site of a medieval mill c.100m to the south. A 17th century mill lies adjacent to the monument on its north west side. The post and wire fence which crosses the monument on its south east side and the stone trough in the moat on its west side are both excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath is included. The inspection shafts for the water tunnel and the water tunnel itself which passes under the site taking water from the River Yeo to the south of the site, to the 17th century mill to the north west of the moated site, are included in the scheduling.

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:

22070

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
comments made during MPP field visit, Bartlett, Mr, (1994)

End of official list entry

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