Medieval moated site and associated building platform 620m and 700m south east of Bannisdale Low Bridge

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 medieval moated site 620m south east of Bannisdale Low Bridge survives well and remains undisturbed by modern development. It is a well-preserved example of this class of monument which is unusual in possessing an adjacent associated building platform indicating structural features extending beyond the moated island.

Details

The monument, which is divided into two separate areas of protection, includes the earthworks and buried remains of a medieval moated site and an associated building platform. The moated site is located on the flood plain of Bannisdale Beck immediately south of the beck 620m south east of Bannisdale Low Bridge, and includes a dry moat which surrounds an island or platform. A building platform containing the remains of a stone building lies to the south east of the moated site.

The rectangular moated island measures approximately 38m by 36m and is surrounded by a dry moat on all sides except the north east side which lies immediately adjacent to the beck. Upcast from the ditch forms an inner bank on three sides of the island; this bank measures up to 2.5m wide and 0.5m high on the north west and south east sides of the island but is substantially smaller on the south west side. The ditch measures up to 6.5m wide. There is a single outer bank on the moat's south east side and a double outer bank on the north west side. Entrance to the island is gained at the northern corner while at the western corner there are traces of a possible causeway suggesting a second entrance. Internally there are faint traces of the surface remains of structural foundations predominantly on the north eastern side of the island. A short distance to the south east of the moat, at NY54790164, there is a building platform measuring approximately 19m north-south by 10m east-west which contains the boulder foundations of a two-roomed structure located on a low elevated position above the flood plain of the beck.

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:

35028

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
SMR No. 1941, Cumbria SMR, Moated Site 700m SE of Bannisdale Low Bridge, (1997)

End of official list entry

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