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 a moated manorial site located some 850m to the south of
the River Waveney on the edge of the marshland bordering the river. The moat,
which ranges in width between 15m and 20m, is water-filled on the north side
and elsewhere, although partly silted, remains open to a depth of up to 2.5m
and is seasonally wet. It surrounds an ovoid central platform with maximum
dimensions of 65m east-west by 48m, raised up to 0.5m above the prevailing
ground level and with the spread remains of an internal bank standing to a
height of about 0.5m above this around the southern and eastern edge. On the
western edge of the platform there is an earthen mound measuring approximately
13m in length north-south by 9m and standing to a height of up to 2m which may
have supported a tower. A depression approximately 1m deep, which extends back
from the inner edge of the moat on the south side is considered to be a later
quarry pit, and immediately to the east of this the moat is crossed by a
narrow earthen causeway which is probably not an original feature. A short
outward projection from the moat on the north east side marks the opening of a
former outlet channel. Fragments of medieval clay roof tile, including glazed
ridge tile, observed on the surface of the interior provided evidence for the
medieval manor house which once stood there, and fragments of pottery dated to
the 13th century were found during cleaning of the northern part of the moat.
Occupation of the moated site probably ended around the beginning of the 17th
century, when the present Wade Hall, which stands immediately to the south of
the moat was built. The present hall is not included in the schedulling.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
30550
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals
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
