Moated site at Ganwick Farm, 580m west of House 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 580m west of House Farm survives well. The island is believed to be largely undisturbed by modern activity and will retain buried evidence for structures and other features relating to the development and character of the site throughout the periods of occupation. The buried silts in the base of the moat will contain artefacts relating to the period of occupation, and organic remains, including evidence for the local environment in the past, are also likely to be preserved in waterlogged deposits in the moat. Comparisons between this site and other examples, both locally and more widely, will provide valuable insights into the developments in the nature of settlement in medieval England.

Details

The monument includes a medieval moated site located adjacent to Great Wratting parish boundary, north east of the village. The moated site includes a roughly square island measuring up to 40m across. This is enclosed by a partly waterfilled moat, measuring up to 10m wide and 1.5m deep. A house, which was recorded on the island in 1843 as Gannocks Farm, is no longer standing but will survive below ground as a buried feature. A causeway, which crosses the eastern corner of the moat, was also recorded in 1843. A section of the moat's south east arm to the west of the causeway has been infilled but will survive as a buried feature. All fencing around the moated site is excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath it 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:

33312

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
Title: Great Wratting Tithe Map Source Date: 1843 Author: Publisher: Surveyor: SRO (Bury): FL 503/3/1

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