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, known as Old Hall and
identified as the former site of Longham Manor House, located at the
northern edge of a former Green known as South Hall Green or Longham
Green. In 1086 Longham was part of the manor of Mileham and by the 13th
century land holdings in Longham included those of the L'Estrange, le
Denys and de Skerning families. In the 16th century interests in Longham
were united under Sir Edward Coke and descended in the Coke family, later
earls of Leicester.
The moated island is sub-rectangular in plan, with dimensions of
approximately 50m east-west by 43m, and is slightly raised above the
surrounding ground level. It is surrounded on the south and east sides and
around the north east and south west corners by a moat which is partly
water-filled, open to a depth of 1m and measures up to 10m in width. The
moat has been enlarged externally at the south east corner, where it
expands to about 14m in width. The north west corner has been infilled but
will survive as a buried feature.
The moated site is depicted on a late 16th century map, which shows the
moat in its entirety, with what appears to be a bridge across the eastern
arm, and the hall, aligned east-west, in the northern half of the central
platform. Adjoining the east side of the moat there was an outer
enclosure containing a number of ancillary buildings, such as barns and
stables, a small circular structure which was probably a dovecote in the
south east corner, and a pond. A new hall was built by Thomas William
Coke near the church, approximately 600m to the north, in the early part
of the 19th century. The remains of a brick and breeze block building
stand near the centre of the island, which is said to have remained in
occupation into the 20th century.
All standing building remains and fence posts are excluded from the
scheduling, although the ground beneath them is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
35068
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals 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
