Moated site 140m east of St Mary's Church

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 140m east of St Mary's Church 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 evidence about the occupation and social status of the inhabitants. Organic remains surviving in the buried ground surfaces under the raised interior and the external banks, and in the moat, will also provide information about the changes to the local environment and use of the land before and after the moated site was constructed. The importance of the site is also enhanced by its amenity value. It is accessible to the public and is a valuable educational resource.

Details

The monument includes the earthwork and buried remains of a medieval moated site situated on an east facing slope alongside the River Roden, 140m east of St Mary's Church. The moat defines a rectangular island, which measures approximately 34m east - west and 43m north - south. The arms of the moat are between 13m and 17m wide, up to 2m deep, and retain water. Material excavated from the moat has been used to heighten the eastern portion of island in order to create a level platform. Spoil from this operation has also been used to form external banks along the length of the eastern arm and the adjoining portions of the northern and southern arms. These banks are between 5m and 7m wide and up to 1.3m in height. In the middle of the western arm there is a causeway, 6m wide across its top, that provides access to the island. The modern gate and the fence that partly surrounds the site is 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:

32315

Legacy System:

RSM

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