Moated site at Manor 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.

Despite partial infilling of the ditch, the moated site at Manor Farm survives well. The island is largely undisturbed and will retain buried evidence for structures and other features relating to its former use. The buried silts in the base of the ditches will contain both artefacts relating to the period of occupation and environmental evidence for the appearance of the landscape in which the moated site was set.

Comparative studies between this site and with further examples, both locally and more widely, will provide valuable insights into the development of settlement in medieval England.

Details

The monument includes a medieval moated site at Manor Farm which lies 300m to the south of the village of Teversham. It is thought to be associated with the manor of Dengayne.

The moated site includes a roughly rectangular island which measures up to 128m north east-south west by 62m north west-south east. This is enclosed by a seasonally water-filled moat, measuring up to 8m wide and at least 1.5m in depth, along the south west side, the greater part of the north west side and part of the south east side. The north east side and the north eastern ends of the north west and south east sides were infilled during the 19th century and survive as buried features. The moated site was formerly linked to a series of interconnected water-filled channels and drainage systems, now no longer evident. A causeway, thought to be the original access point, was formerly located across the centre of the south east arm of the moat. Standing near the north western edge of the island is Manor Farm, a Listed Building Grade II which is believed to date from the 17th century; this represents a successor to the medieval manor house which is thought to have stood on the island.

Manor Farm, all farm buildings, walls, modern surfaces, fences and gateways are 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:

33278

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Stokes, A H, Moated Sites Research Group, (1984)
Salzman, L F, The Victoria History of the County of Cambridgeshire and the Isle of Ely, (1948), 42

Other
Title: Enclosure map of Teversham Source Date: 1810 Author: Publisher: Surveyor: CRO: Q/RDc 22
Title: 1st Edition Ordnance Survey Map Source Date: 1886 Author: Publisher: Surveyor: CRO: XLII:4
RCHM: North East Cambs., (1972)

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.