Moated site immediately east of Gannow Farm

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 moated site immediately east of Gannow Farm, although in part disturbed, survives as a well-preserved example of a small medieval homestead moat. The undisturbed island will preserve evidence of former structures, including both domestic and ancillary buildings and their associated occupation levels. These remains will illustrate the nature of use of the site and the lifestyle of its inhabitants in addition to evidence which will facilitate the dating of the construction and subsequent periods of use of the moat.

The moat ditch can be expected to preserve earlier deposits including evidence of its construction and any alterations which occurred during its active history. In addition, its waterlogged condition will preserve environmental information about the ecosystem and landscape history of the moat from the medieval period. The 4m sample of the eastern section of the site will preserve evidence of the relationship between the western and eastern islands. This was a site of some complexity and of high status. Figure of `8' moats are comparatively rare and the existence of an outer ditched, or moated, enclosure further emphasises the site's rarity and importance. A considerable outlay would have been needed for its construction, making it a significant feature of the medieval landscape.

The distribution and relationships between moated sites in the medieval Forest of Feckenham are not yet fully understood and this site will provide valuable information on this subject. There are at least three other moated sites recorded within a 1.5km radius of Gannow Farm, providing information about the relationships between settlements of this nature in the locality.

Details

The monument includes the buried and earthwork remains of the surviving western section, and a sample of the damaged eastern section, of the moated site east of Gannow Farm located on level ground immediately to the east of the modern farmyard.

The moat was originally a figure of `8' in plan, orientated north west to south east, although only the westernmost moat survives well. Traces of the northern arm of the eastern moat can still be seen as a detached earthwork to the east of the monument; however this moat has largely been infilled and degraded through previous agricultural practices. The eastern moat is not therefore included in the scheduling except for a 4m sample which has been included in order to preserve the relationship between the eastern and western moated areas.

The island of the western moat, which is rectangular and raised above the surrounding ground level, measures some 20m by 20m, and is defined by a substantial moat which maintains a depth of water for most of the year. The moat measures up to 1m deep and 6m wide and relies largely on ground drainage for its water supply. The surface of the island is undulating although undisturbed, traces of structures being evident in addition to a stone-lined well and masonry steps leading down to the moat in the middle of the northern arm. Access is gained by a causeway situated midway along the southern arm, which has been widened west of the causeway. There are traces of masonry revetment on the inner and outer banks of the moat and causeway. The moat drains to the south east into a drain inserted on the line of the infilled southern arm of the eastern moat.

The moated site is believed to be a medieval homestead moat and was once within the Royal Forest of Feckenham.

All post and wire fencing is excluded from the scheduling although 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:

31942

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Moger, O, Wragge, A, The Victoria History of the County of Worcestershire, (1913), 419
Bond, C J, Medieval Moated Sites in Worcestershire: Selected Moats, Vol. ResRep17, (1978), 74

Other
various SMR Officers, SMR Records, (1960)

End of official list entry

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