Moated site 350m north east of Manor Farm, Calverhall

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 350m north east of Manor Farm, Calverhall, is a well-preserved example of this class of monument. The moated island will retain structural and artefactual evidence of the buildings that once stood on the site, which together with the artefacts and organic remains existing in the moat, will provide valuable information about the occupation and social status of the inhabitants. Organic remains surviving in the moat will also provide information about changes to the local environment and use of the land.

Details

The monument includes the earthwork and buried remains of a medieval moated site occupying a low-lying position, surrounded by gently undulating land. The moat defines a rectangular island, which measures approximately 40m north west - south east and 45m south west - north east. The arms of the moat were all originally about 10m wide. The outer sides of the south western and south eastern arms have been extended to create a triangular shaped pond 30m north west - south east by 65m south west - north east. All the moat arms, including the pond, are wet, with the exception of the northern corner. The height of island varies between 1m and 1.6m, reflecting the undulating nature of the surrounding ground. All modern field boundaries 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:

32308

Legacy System:

RSM

End of official list entry

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