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.
Details
The monument includes the remains of a medieval moated site in the village of
Orby, located immediately to the east of Manor Farm.
The remains take the form of a moat partly enclosing an asymmetric,
curvilinear island measuring approximately 80m by 70m. On its south western,
southern, eastern and northern sides the moat is up to 15m in width and about
3m in depth and has steep, well-defined sides. A counterscarp bank, which
follows the eastern edge of the moat for approximately 25m, is considered to
be of the same date as the moat and is comprised of spoil from the moat ditch
being placed along the outer lip. The section of the moat from the north
through to the north west has been partly in-filled and is visible as a less
pronounced depression approximately 1m deep and 15m wide. The remaining
section from the north west through to the west is considered to have been
completely in-filled and levelled to provide a platform on which the present
Manor Farm is built. At least three linked sub-rectangular embanked platforms
approximately 0.4m high are visible on the island within the moat. The first
is situated towards the western side of the island and covers an area of
approximately 17m by 20m. The second platform, located slightly to the north
east of the first, is approximately 11m by 10m. The third platform,
approximately 20m by 12m, abuts the northern side of the moat. These suggest
the presence of structures or garden features associated with the site of a
medieval house located within the island. A water-filled linear depression,
approximately 10m by 17m and up to 1.5m deep, situated roughly centrally on
the island is thought to represent a modern feature.
The presence of the moated site in close association with the parish church
and the present day Manor Farm house suggests that it represents the original
location of the medieval manor of Orby. Field observation in 1964 revealed
that a number of conjoined rectangular ditched enclosures formerly existed
immediately to the south and east of the moat; these were interpreted as the
remains of manorial enclosures and crofts. Their relationship with the moated
site is indicative of it being a focal point for settlement and therefore of
sufficient status to represent a manorial site.
All pathways and fences are excluded from the scheduling, although the ground
beneath them is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
30211
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Other
Legal
This monument is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 as amended as it appears to the Secretary of State to be of national importance. This entry is a copy, the original is held by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
End of official list entry
