Reasons for Designation
Medieval rural settlements in England were marked by great regional diversity
in form, size and type, and the protection of their archaeological remains
needs to take these differences into account. To do this, England has been
divided into three broad Provinces on the basis of each area's distinctive
mixture of nucleated and dispersed settlements. These can be further divided
into sub-Provinces and local regions, possessing characteristics which have
gradually evolved during the past 1500 years or more.
This monument lies in the Inner Midlands sub-Province of the Central Province,
an area characterised by large numbers of nucleated settlements, both
surviving and deserted, many of which are thought to have been established in
Anglo-Saxon times. Most of the sub-Province's thinly scattered dispersed
settlements were created in post-medieval times, but some of the local regions
are characterised by higher proportions of dispersed dwellings and hamlets,
which probably mark the patchy survival of older landscapes.
Details
The monument includes the buried and earthwork remains of the medieval
settlement, moated site and fishponds at Church End, Chesterton. A hamlet
known as Church End is mentioned in medieval documents and may represent the
earliest medieval settlement in the parish. The earliest material in St Giles
Church dates from the 12th century, but it may stand on the site of an earlier
building. Church End is first recorded in documents of 1287 and buildings
survived here until the 19th century. The settlement remains surround St Giles
Church and include the remains of a small moated manorial site and a string of
fishponds to the north of the church. The moated site includes a sub-
rectangular moat, which is best preserved on the north and west side having
been partially infilled during the 1980s on its southern side. Foundations for
two stone bridge abutments were recorded during the 1960s, although these are
no longer visible. Cultivation of the area just west of the moat in 1984
revealed the stone foundations of an extensive and high status building. The
fishponds include at least two linear ponds orientated north east to south
west, and records suggest that there was originally a chain of four ponds
which may later have been landscaped into the grounds of the later mansion. To
the north of the ponds is a substantial leat, with a large linear bank on its
southern side; both features are orientated north east to south west and
measure at least 50m long. These are believed to represent the site of an
early water mill.
Documents suggest that John Peyto rebuilt the manor near the church during
1470. It was then abandoned by the family around 1650 and replaced by a
classical mansion of three stories located on the crest of the hill to the
north. The later mansion was destroyed in the 19th century. A small hamlet
associated with the manor existed to the south of the moated site and the
church, at least three building platforms of which can be seen lying between
Church Lane and the modern fishing pool. The creation of the pool is
considered to have destroyed further settlement remains and this area is not
included in the scheduling.
St Giles Church, the churchwarden's cottage and the northern half of the
church cemetery are totally excluded from the scheduling, both above and below
ground. The southern half of the church cemetery and the gardens of the
churchwarden's cottage are, however, included.
All fences, modern surfaces, all the tombs and headstones including three
examples Listed Grade II, the churchyard wall and the Listed Grade II* brick
built gateway on the northern side of the cemetery, are all 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:
35105
Legacy System:
RSM
End of official list entry
