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 a moated site on low-lying ground, at Bellamys Farm. The
rectangular moat encloses an island measuring 42m by 38m, orientated north-
south. The moat is 10m wide at its widest point, up to 3m deep and is
waterfilled. A series of modern buildings stand in the north east corner of
the island extending to the south. There is no evidence for an original
causeway across the moat, but a stone-built bridge crosses the centre
of the northern arm.
The moated site is believed to have taken its name from the Bellamy family who
appear in the Dymock manor rolls of the 14th and 15th centuries.
A number of features are excluded from the scheduling; these are the modern
farmhouse and all other modern structures on the island, the gravel surface of
the drive and parking area, all terraces, the walls and stone surfaces of the
sunken gardens, the surface of the tennis court to the south east of the moat,
the stone bridge across the northern arm of the moat and the wooden footbridge
across the western arm, all stone and brick walls, wooden fences and gates;
the ground beneath all these features is, however, included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
32339
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals
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
