Moated site 550m south east of Scorborough Hall

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 part of a related group of moated sites and associated settlement dating to the medieval period, in this area. It survives in good condition and will retain environmental information from the moated ditch fills relating to the period of its construction. Togther with the related sites in this group, it will be able to offer important insights into the social, economic and territorial divisions of this area during the medieval period.

Details

The monument includes a moated site 550m south east of Scorborough Hall. The monument is one of a group of associated sites in the Scorborough area, which includes the shrunken medieval village of Scorborough, the Scorborough Hall moated site and Iron Age cemetery, and another moated site north east of Scorborough church, which are all the subject of separate schedulings. The monument includes a central island measuring 38m north east-south west by 25m north west-south east, surrounded by a moat up to 12m wide and nearly 2m deep. The moat has an exterior bank between 0.5m and 0.7m high and 2.5m wide. The monument has overall dimensions of 85m north east-south west by 65m north west-south east. There are traces of building foundations upon the central island, consisting of a rectangular bank measuring some 12.5m by 10m. Post and wire fencing and gates 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:

26608

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 Record Sheet, (1995)

End of official list entry

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