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 Littywood moated site, the only moated site in
Staffordshire with two concentric, circular moats. It includes a central
platform upon which stands Littywood House. Surrounding the platform is a dry
inner moat up to 40m wide and 3m deep which is separated from the outer moat
by a flat-topped bank up to 22m wide. The outer moat remains waterlogged on
its eastern side but is dry on the west. Two connecting channels linking the
moats have been cut through the bank on its western side. An outer bank up to
13m wide flanks the outer moat on its south-west and western sides. Access to
the house is by a causeway on the north-east side.
Littywood was the manorial house of the Baron of Stafford prior to passing
through the Caverswall, Willoughby and Greville families. In c.1502 the manor
was leased to John Stapledon whose family later claimed they had been tenants
since the 12th or 13th centuries. The house was originally two timber-framed
buildings still largely preserved, converted into the present house which has
a later brick shell.
Littywood House, all outbuildings, service pipes, inspection chambers,
telegraph poles, driveways, paths, fences, walls and field boundaries 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:
22435
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals 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
