Averham moat and enclosure

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 extent of the earthworks at Averham indicate a manorial complex of some importance. The moat is very well-preserved and, while the adjacent enclosure has suffered some disturbance due to ploughing and levelling, it survives sufficiently well to retain significant archaeological remains from both the medieval and post-medieval periods.

Details

The monument includes the moated site of Averham manor and the adjacent enclosure which extends to the south-east. Earthworks visible in the ploughed field to the south-west, and concentrations of brick further to the south-east, indicate the existence of a second enclosure and probable building remains. However, the extent and survival of these additional features is not sufficiently understood for them to be included in the scheduling. The moat includes a rectangular island measuring 12m from north-west to south-east by 69m from north-east to south-west. Enclosing it is a steep- sided ditch, 3m deep and varying between 8m and 9m wide. The ditch levels out near the south corner, indicating a bridging point leading from the enclosure to the south-east. The visible remains of this enclosure consist of two parallel banks of which the south-western is the best preserved. It is roughly 2m wide by 100m long and projects south-eastwards from the south end of the moat. The second bank lies c.70m to the north but has been disturbed by the creation of the gardens behind the houses on Church Lane. Only its south-east end is now visible, projecting into the paddock adjacent to the two houses. The remains of domestic or ancillary buildings will survive in this enclosure and on the island. All boundary fencing and garden fixtures are excluded from the scheduling, but the ground beneath is included.

MAP EXTRACT The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

13392

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
The Victoria History of the County of Nottinghamshire: Volume I, (1906), 309

End of official list entry

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