Medieval moated site 110m north west of Grange 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 encroachment from the south, the medieval moated site 110m north west of Grange Farm is a well-defined example that survives in excellent condition. Within the area defined by the moat, archaeological remains will survive providing an insight into the use of the site, while the moat itself will contain environmental evidence relating to the landscape in which it was built.

Details

The monument includes a moated site situated on low-lying Head deposits on the north western edge of Bratton, a springline village built beneath the northern scarp of Salisbury Plain. The area enclosed by the moat is square, measuring 22m across, flat-topped and rises 0.8m above the surrounding area. The sides of this island slope steeply into the moat which is 1.3m deep and between 5m and 8m wide. The moat is lined with clay in order to hold water but it is now dry. Surrounding the moat is a low bank up to 1m high and 2m wide. To the south east the boundary wall of a house plot has been built over the bank. This wall is not included in the scheduling. To the east the bank supports a hedge bank adjacent to the road. To the west the moat has been partially infilled with stone to protect it from a track which crosses at this point, but it survives as a buried feature.

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:

33530

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
Roy Cahnam, Moated Site, NW of Bratton, (1981)

End of official list entry

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