Wardley Hall moated site, Worsley

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 Wardley Hall survives reasonably well despite the continued occupation of the island and landscaping of the gardens around the hall. The circular form of the site is unusual for this region. The island will retain evidence of the buildings which formerly occupied it, including evidence of the earliest medieval hall. Silts and deposits in both the open and infilled sections of the moat will retain important environmental and other remains.

Details

The monument includes a moated site with an island occupied by a medieval hall and gardens. The moat was originally 20m wide and completely encircled the site. At present it is widened on the west and south side to provide a water feature for the gardens. On the east and north sides the moat has been filled in to extend the gardens. On the east side the course of the moat can be traced as a wetter strip in the lawn. A scoop has also been taken out of the island platform here to provide a level space for a bowling green or tennis courts in the past. The soil from this excavation has been used to fill the moat at this point. To the north of the site the moat is overlain by a kitchen garden and the cobbled yard for the entrance of the hall. Engravings of the hall, in the possession of the owner, show that in the 18th century the moat was filled with water in front of the hall and that a bridge spanned the moat to provide entry to the hall on this north side. The platform of the island measures approximately 100m wide and is circular; the enclosed area is 0.65ha. The building of the present hall is recorded in the 14th century with extensive restorations later. This building will have replaced an earlier one. The hall is Listed Grade I. The hall building, the outbuildings, the former sundial shaft (Listed Grade II), and the garden wall lying over the moat are excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath them 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:

27591

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
The Victoria History of the County of Lancashire: Volume IV, (1911), 385-8

Other
Greater Manchester SMR, (1989)

End of official list entry

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