Moated site 200m north of Lucas Farm, Corse Lawn

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 200m north of Lucas Farm, Corse Lawn survives as a largely undisturbed and well-preserved example of a medieval moated site. It will provide evidence on the nature of the site's use, the lifestyle of its inhabitants and information which will facilitate dating of the construction and subsequent periods of use. The waterlogged condition of the moat will preserve environmental evidence such as seeds and pollen which will provide information about the ecosystem and landscape in which the monument was set.

Details

The monument includes the buried and earthwork remains of the medieval moated site approximately 200m north of Lucas Farm, Corse Lawn. The site is located on generally level, low lying land in the south east of the parish of Eldersfield, and is enclosed land of the former Corse Chase. Corse Lawn, which had gained its name by the 1490s, is itself mainly situated in the adjoining parish and is believed to be a clearing in the former Chase Forest. The Chase was originally held by the Earls of Gloucester. The moated island is irregular in plan, almost sub-triangular, and measures some 40m by 60m. It is defined by a substantial water-filled moat which measures up to 8m wide by up to 1m deep. The island is generally level, and it is expected to retain evidence of the original house and access bridge, access now being gained via a causeway by the south west corner of the moat. All modern fencing is 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:

31964

Legacy System:

RSM

End of official list entry

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