Barnhill moated site at Hambleton

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 at Hambleton is a substantial earthwork with generally well preserved and waterlogged ditches. It is one of the few surviving components of the important medieval landed estate of Normanton Park.

Details

The moated site at Hambleton occupies high ground at the end of what is now a peninsula overlooking Rutland Water. It comprises the western, southern and eastern arms of a `U' shaped moat, with part of a barely discernable hollow to the north west indicating the former existence of a northern ditch.

The overall dimensions of the site are 110m W-E x 60m N-S, with the original dimensions of the moat ditch preserved on the western side, being about 12m wide and 2m deep. Partial silting of the southern and eastern arms has reduced their width to 8m and depth to 1m. There are faint traces of an internal bank on the southern and western sides, and an outer bank exists on the western side. The site has a relatively featureless interior.

Maps predating the construction of Rutland Water show rows of trees leading to the site and it is considered that the moat may have enclosed an isolated lodge connected to Normanton Park. Modern landscaping features exist to the south, but they have not encroached on the earthworks of the southern ditch. A footpath crossing the site is excluded from the scheduling, but the ground beneath it 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:

17008

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Hartley, R F, The Medieval Earthworks of Rutland, (1983), 22-3

End of official list entry

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