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.
Details
The monument includes the buried and earthwork remains of a sub-rectangular
moated site and fishpond 120m south east of Chapel House Farm, Hunt End. It is
located just below the base of a slope at the head of a broad, low lying
valley which contains a series of streams and ponds, and within the
jurisdiction of the medieval Royal Forest of Feckenham.
The moated site measures approximately 130m east to west by 200m north to
south. The northern, eastern, and southern arms of the moat survive in good
condition, two of which are water-filled. The arms vary from 5m to 10m wide
and are 0.5m to 2.5m deep. The western arm survives as a partly infilled dry
linear earthwork 180m long, 2m to 4m wide and 0.5m to 1m deep.
The remains of an inner bank, 2m wide and 0.75m high, survive around parts of
the north, south and east sides of the moat. The northern arm of the moat has
been partly reinstated. An external earthen bank, up to 1.5m high and 2m to 4m
wide survives on the west, south and east sides of the moat.
The surface of the island is level with the surrounding ground, and in the
northern part contains evidence of medieval ridge and furrow cultivation
remains and earthworks which are believed to be the remains of former
buildings. At the centre of the island is a building of brick and stone, which
is Listed Grade II and is largely of 17th century construction, although parts
are thought to be earlier. It was formerly a chapel of Bordesley Abbey and is
now a domestic dwelling, known as The Moat House. It is excluded from the
scheduling although the ground beneath it is included.
To the east of the moat there are the remains of a large sub-rectangular
fishpond measuring approximately 320m by 100m and orientated north to south,
and retained on the south side by a substantial earthen dam 120m long by 10m
wide and 4m to 6m high. The retaining dam is included in the area. The north
and east sides of the pond were created by the natural rise of the land at the
head of the valley. The pond provided fish for the inhabitants of the moated
site and is separated from the moat by an additional external bank on the east
side of the moat. Streams run along both the eastern arm of the moat and
through the middle of the bed of the fishpond.
Part of a stone-roofed conduit or sluice survives in the bank between the moat
and the fishpond on the eastern side of the moated site approximately half
way down the length of the bank, 120m south west of the north eastern angle of
the moat. This consists of an earthen ditch measuring approximately 0.5m deep
and 1m wide, roofed with a rubble-built stone arch of pre-industrial date.
This feature can be traced for approximately 2m of its course. The survival of
this conduit confirms that features associated with water management systems,
at the moated site and fishpond, survive below ground.
To the north of the moat is a large levelled platform and causeway thought to
have been the location of buildings associated with the moated site.
Moat House and its associated buildings, all modern surfaces and all garden
furniture and fences are excluded from the scheduling, although the ground
beneath all these features is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
30018
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Other
Legal
This monument is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 as amended as it appears to the Secretary of State to be of national importance. This entry is a copy, the original is held by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
End of official list entry
