Moated monastic grange site and fishponds in Paradise Wood, 630m north west of Carlam Hill 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 monument is recorded as being a former monastic grange of Meaux Abbey. Monastic granges were farms owned and run by a monastic community. They are a rare monument class; few examples have been confirmed to have surviving remains. The Paradise moated monastic grange survives in good condition and despite part excavation, will retain further evidence of its medieval occupation.

Details

The monument includes a moated monastic grange site in Paradise Wood, 1km east of Wawne and 630m north west of Carlam Hill Farm. The monument includes a central raised island, surrounded on all sides by a moat, and what are interpreted as two fishponds lying immediately to the east of the moated site. The island measures approximately 60m north-south by 45m east-west, and the moat is between 6m-8m wide and up to 1.5m deep in places. The first fishpond immediately to the east of the moat is sub-rectangular and measures about 10m long, 4m wide and about 1m deep. The second fishpond to the east of the first is approximately oval in shape and is about 10m north-south by 7m west-east, and is also approximately 1m deep. The monument formed a 12th century grange of Meaux Abbey and is reputed to have been one of the fishing retreats of the Abbots of Meaux. Meaux Abbey lies 2.5km to the North. Part excavation revealed a cobbled floor and medieval pottery dating to between c.1300 to c.1500. Modern post and wire fencing is excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath the fencing 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:

26620

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Le Patourel, H.E J, Monograph Series No 5 in The Moated Sites of Yorkshire, (1973), 117

Other
Humberside SMR, Sites and Monuments Records Sheets, (1996)
Humberside SMR, Sites and Monuments Record Sheet, (1996)

End of official list entry

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