Park Hall moated site

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.

Despite infilling of one arm of the moat and some landscaping of another arm, Park Hall moated site survives well. The island will contain evidence of the original manor house known to have existed here during the 13th century and the waterlogged moat will preserve organic material.

Details

The monument includes Park Hall moated site. It contains an island approximately 50m square that is occupied at its northern corner by the 18th century Park Hall. Surrounding the island on three sides is a waterlogged moat up to 16m wide and 3.5m deep that extends in a north-easterly direction at the northern corner. The moat's north-western arm has been infilled. An outer bank 9m wide flanks the moat's north-eastern arm. Access to the island is by an 18th century gated sandstone bridge. Park Hall was the manor house of the Leigh family who held one third of the manor in the 13th century. The present hall, and the bridge, gate piers and gate are Listed buildings Grade II. Park Hall, the bridge, gate piers and gate, all outbuildings, service pipes, walls, fences and paths, a sluice at the moat's eastern corner, an ornamental statue and small island in the moat's south-western arm, and a small ornamental footbridge across the south-western arm are all 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:

22439

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
DOE, List of Buildings of Historic & Architectural Interest,
DOE, List of Buildings of Historic & Architectural Interest,
Darvill, T., MPP Single Monument Class Descriptions - Moats, (1988)
SMR No 615, Staffs SMR, Park Hall: Leigh,

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