Moated site and field system 380m south of Moat Farm, Wollerton Wood

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 380m south of Moat Farm, Wollerton Wood, and the adjacent field system survive well despite some disturbance from later agricultural activities. The moated site 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 evidence about the occupation and social status of the inhabitants. Organic remains surviving in the moat will also provide information about the changes to the local environment and use of the land. The relationship between the moated site, the cultivation remains and the former field ditches demonstates the changing nature of the agricultural landscape in this area in terms of use and land holding patterns.

Details

The monument includes the earthwork and buried remains of a medieval moated site, an area of ridge and furrow cultivation remains and its associated field boundary ditches. The moated site occupies a low lying position with land rising to the north and west. The moat defines a rectangular island, which measures approximately 50m north-south and 58m east-west. The moat retains water. The arms are on average 8m wide and survive to a depth of between 1m and 1.5m, with the exception of the southern arm which has been largely infilled and on its outer side has been damaged by ploughing. Crossing the island are a series of cultivation ridges, aligned east-west. The remnants of the strip cultivation system - ridge and furrow - that survive to the north of the moated site are bounded by former field ditches to the north and west which connect with the boundaries of the present-day fields. The ridge and furrow and the former field ditches are included in the scheduling to preserve the relationship between them and the moated site. Ridge and furrow originally existed to the south of the moated site but has been levelled by modern ploughing and is not included in the scheduling. All modern fences and gates are excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath these features 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:

32312

Legacy System:

RSM

End of official list entry

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