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 two moated sites and associated settlement remains adjoining St Andrew's
Church survive well. The islands remain relatively undisturbed by post-
medieval and modern activity and will retain buried evidence for earlier
structures and other features relating to the development and character of the
site throughout its periods of occupation. The buried silts in the base of the
moat will contain both artefacts relating to early habitation of the site and
organic materials, likely to be preserved in waterlogged deposits in the moat,
including environmental evidence relating to the character of the landscape in
which the moated sites were set.
Comparative studies between this site and further examples, both locally and
more widely, will provide valuable insights into the development of settlement
in medieval England.
The area of land to the west of the north east moat and to the north west of
St Andrew's Church will contain evidence for further archaeological activity
relating to medieval occupation of the site. It shows little evidence of
recent disturbance and, together with the moated sites of the medieval manor
and rectory and the church, are considered to represent the remains of a small
greenside hamlet, of a type characteristic in this part of Suffolk, where
dispersed settlements, as opposed to nucleated villages, are common. The
monument as a whole is therefore of particular interest for the study of the
historic pattern of rural settlement in this region.
Details
The monument includes two moated enclosures located immediately to the north
east and south west of St Andrew's Church, together with an associated area
of medieval settlement between the two, directly to the north and west of the
church.
The south western moated site includes a roughly rectangular island measuring
up to 82m east to west by 60m north to south which has been terraced into the
slope. This is enclosed by a partly waterfilled moat measuring an average of
14m wide and up to 3m in depth. A causeway across the north arm of the moat is
known to have been in use before 1847 and is thought to represent the original
access to the island. The southern part of the island is occupied by Brockley
Hall, a Listed Building Grade I, which dates from the late 13th century.
The north eastern moated enclosure includes an island measuring up to 42m east
to west by 24m north to south, which is enclosed by a waterfilled moat
measuring an average of 7m wide and 1.5m deep. The northern arm of the moat
extends westwards for 46m beyond the north west corner. A shallow bank, up to
6m wide, to the north of the north arm of the moat and the western extension,
is thought to have been constructed with material upcast from the moat and
forms a dam between the northern arm and the stream immediately to the north.
A narrow leat links the north east corner of the moat to the stream.
An L-shaped area to the west of the north east moated enclosure and to the
north east of St Andrew's Church, contains earthworks which are considered to
mark remains of associated medieval settlement, and is therefore included in
the scheduling.
The south western moat is thought to represent the site of Brockley Hall Manor
which arose out of the estates of Peter and Alan de Brockley, held of the
Abbot of St Edmunds, in the late 12th century. In 1286 the lordship was held
of the abbey by John Algar for one knight's fee and encompassed `a messuage,
250 acres of land, 10 acres of wood, 8 acres of meadow and pasture, a windmill
and the advowson of the church'. In 1302/3 Robert de Northwold settled the
manor of Brockley on Alexander, son of Ralph de Walsham, and Joan his wife.
Alexander de Walsham is recorded in 1316 as being `lord of the township of
Brockley'. The north east moated enclosure is believed to represent the
original site of the rectory and may be contemporary with both the south west
moat and St Andrew's Church. Both moated enclosures have changed little since
1847 when they were depicted on the Tithe map of Brockley.
Brockley Hall, the modern garage, outhouses, sheds, walls, septic tank, steps
and gates which stand within the south western moated site, along with the
footbridge across the southern arm of the south western moat and all fences,
tarmac and concrete surfaces 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.
