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.
Details
The monument includes a medieval moated site immediately to the south of Moat
Farm, 450m south of Cobbler's Corner.
The moated site includes a roughly rectangular island which measures up to 69m
north-south by 52m east-west. This is enclosed by a water-filled moat,
measuring up to 10m wide and at least 1.5m in depth, which in recent times has
been revetted with wood along the outer edge of the north arm. The north east
corner of the moat extends into a small pond-like feature, approximately 14m
across, which may at one time have been used for watering horses. The island
is approached via a causeway, about 5m wide, across the east arm of the moat,
and via a wooden footbridge across the north arm.
The moated site is marked on a map of 1595 which depicts a building in the
centre with the name `Tenements Claydons'. The post-medieval farmhouse to the
north of the moat is thought to represent the successor to a house on the
island.
The footbridge across the north arm of the moat and the wooden revetting along
the north arm, the stones lining the pond, all fencing, all made up surfaces
and the outhouses immmediately to the north of the pond feature, are excluded
from the scheduling, although the ground beneath these features is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
33295
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Other
Legal
This monument is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 as amended as it appears to the Secretary of State to be of national importance. This entry is a copy, the original is held by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
End of official list entry
