Moated site known as Moon's Moat

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 partial excavation the moated site known as Moon's Moat survives well with a demonstrated active history extending well into the 17th century. Excavation on the island has provided evidence of former structures, including both domestic and ancillary buildings and their associated occupation levels as well as evidence of substantial rebuilding in the 16th century. This has helped to illustrate the nature and use of the site in addition to providing evidence which has facilitated the dating of the construction and alterations during its active history. The waterlogged condition of the moat will be expected to preserve environmental information such as pollen and seeds which will provide evidence for the ecosystem and landscape in which it was set.

Details

The monument includes the buried and earthwork remains of the medieval moated site at Moon's Moat. The site was partially excavated during the expansion of Redditch New Town in the 1970s and is situated on generally level ground utilised as public open space surrounded by housing. The moat is water-filled and up to 1.7m deep. It surrounds a rectangular island 27m by 20m. There is now no access to the island, although a causeway was formerly located midway along the northern arm. The north, south, and west arms of the moat measure approximately 14m wide. The eastern arm of the moat was widened in the 16th century by approximately 30m to within 7m of the stream to the east to form a pond, which measures 50m by 45m. The moat is filled and emptied via modern sluices from the stream, and there are the remains of a former inlet leat located midway along the southern arm. Excavations upon the island by Wise and Medley revealed cobbled surfaces, stone building foundations and a rubbish pit, in addition to evidence for former structures which preceded the stone foundations. The site was found to date originally from the late 13th or early 14th century and was extensively modified in the 16th century when the moat was recut to its present form. The moated site was finally abandoned in the 17th century. All modern fencing, services and surfaces, the modern sluices, and the concrete plinth of the former interpretation board 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.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

31970

Legacy System:

RSM

End of official list entry

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