Moated site 170m south west of Tyrell's Hall

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 170m south west of Tyrell's Hall survives well. The island remains largely undisturbed and will retain buried evidence for structures and other features relating to the period of occupation. The buried silts in the base of the moat 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.

Comparison between this site and others, both locally and more widely, will provide valuable insights into the nature of settlement and society in the medieval period.

Details

The monument includes a medieval moated site located 170m south west of Tyrell's Hall and 130m north east of Shepreth parish church. In 1764 the moated enclosure was amongst the lands held by William Woodham, the owner of the manors of Docwras and Tyrells. In the 11th century the manor of Tyrell's was held by two separate estates and the moat may represent the site of one of these.

The moated site includes a roughly rectangular shaped island measuring up to 58m north west-south east by 50m north east-south west. The island is enclosed by a water-filled moat which measures up to 13m wide and approximately 1m deep. The shallow causeway across the north west arm of the moat is thought to represent the original access to the moat. A bridge across the south east arm of the moat is thought to be modern.

The moat is now linked to a number of drainage channels, thought to be of post-medieval date; only a small section of a leat on the north-eastern corner, which is considered to be of medieval origin, is included in the scheduling.

The bridges across the south east arm of the moat and the northern leat are excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath them 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:

33280

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
The Victoria History of the County of Cambridgeshire, (), 253-257

Other
Title: Plan of all enclosures belonging to William Woodham at Shepreth Source Date: 1764 Author: Publisher: Surveyor: CRO: R53/4/160
Title: Enclosure map of Shepreth Source Date: 1811 Author: Publisher: Surveyor: CRO: Q/RD 210
Title: Tithe Map of Shepreth Source Date: 1844 Author: Publisher: Surveyor: CRO: 296/P43

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