Medieval moated site of Bockenden Grange

Summary

The monument includes a medieval moated site, likely to have been the site of the monastic grange associated with the Cistercian monastery at Stoneleigh Abbey.

Reasons for Designation

The moated site known as The Moat, formerly the site of the medieval Bockenden Grange, is scheduled for the following principal reasons:

* Archaeological interest: the site is a medieval moated site, a class of monument which is important for the understanding of the distribution of wealth and status in the countryside;
* Survival: the moated site is relatively little altered, with the ditches and earthworks surviving well, despite the culverting of one arm; and although the island has been partly levelled, demolition rubble of the former buildings on the site may remain in the spoil from the works;
* Potential: the site has significant potential within the waterlogged deposits in the ditches, and in the island, for both occupation and environmental evidence.
* Historic interest: as the probable former monastic grange for Stoneleigh Abbey, a significant Cistercian monastery founded in 1155, and part of a wider landscape associated with the grange.

History

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 moated site is traditionally recognised as the site of the former Bockenden Grange, the grange farm for nearby Stoneleigh Abbey, and shown as such on the first edition Ordnance Survey map of 1887, though there is some debate: the moated site is one of a group of three within a few hundred metres of each other, and it is possible that one of the others was the site of the original Bockenden (variously also Bockidene or Bokindene) Grange; the county Historic Environment Record gives the title to the moated site (now largely obscured by later development) about 200m to the SW of the site under assessment. Historic England’s Pastscape database identifies the present site as that of the grange. Given the proximity of all three moated sites they are very likely to have been in the same ownership, and it appears probable that the present site was also in monastic use. This is supported by its association with the extensive medieval fishponds just to the east, across Bockendon Road, which provided the water source for the moat; and the fact that the site was in the ownership of the Stoneleigh Abbey estate. The fishponds, dammed and drained in the mid-C19, are now dry and wooded but still discernible. Stoneleigh Abbey was a Cistercian monastery, founded in 1155, when Henry II gave land at Westwood Heath to the monks of Stoneleigh, for the purposes of farming; this is the land on which the moated site stands. The abbey continued until the Dissolution. At the Dissolution it was purchased by Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk. In 1561 the estate was sold to two London merchants, Sir Rowland Hill and Sir Thomas Leigh, who was married to Hill's daughter and heiress. At Sir Thomas' death in 1571 Stoneleigh passed to his middle son, Thomas, who was created a baronet in 1611. The Leigh family retained ownership of the moated site until at least the mid-C19: the tithe apportionment of 1845 records the owner of Moat Piece, and surrounding land, as Chandos, Baron Leigh. By this date, a causeway had been created across the centre of the western arm of the moat, allowing access to and from the large field beyond; the medieval fishponds remained partly intact, and the water inlet to the moat is shown clearly, culverted under Bockendon Road, entering the moat at its south-eastern corner. All four arms were in water at this date.

The island was occupied by two buildings of unknown date until the 1970s, when they were demolished and the land levelled to create a platform for a new house, The Moat, completed in 1974. At the same time, the eastern arm of the moat was culverted to create a larger garden area to the east of the house, and the inlet stream was modified to create a garden pond. The garden area to the north-eastern corner of the island and over the culverted arm of the moat was remodelled, and new garden walls constructed in the same period.

Details

PRINCIPAL ELEMENTS
The monument includes a medieval moated site, likely to have been the site of the monastic grange associated with the Cistercian monastery at Stoneleigh Abbey.

DESCRIPTION
The moated site is likely to be medieval in date. It is a substantial moat, roughly 66m by 60m in total. The wide ditches describe a near-square, creating a large dry island in the interior, with one arm now culverted and covered, at the eastern side. Towards the south-eastern corner is the water inlet, fed originally by a series of four large medieval fishponds to the east, now reduced to a stream, from which a garden pond was created in the later C20; the likely outlet is opposite it, off the north-western corner. The ditches vary in width between about 3m and about 10m; they are between 1 and 2 metres in depth, and the southern and western arms are in water. There is a causeway crossing the centre of the western arm.

The island is occupied by a house and outbuildings constructed in 1974, set towards the eastern edge of the site. To the south-west of the island is a large flattened mound, likely to consist of demolition rubble of the previous buildings on the site. The moat now forms part of the garden associated with the house.

The remains of a small brick building stand outside of the moat on the northern side. There has been speculation as to its association with the moated site, but it does not appear to be of any age: there is no building shown in this position on the 1845 tithe map, so it must have been constructed after that date.

EXCLUSIONS
The lampposts, fences, gatepiers, 1970s garden walls, footbridges and the house and garages are all excluded from the scheduling, though the ground beneath them is included.

Sources

Other
1845 Tithe map for Stoneleigh
Warwickshire Historic Environment Record MWA2861: Moat 200m NE of Bockenden Grange
Historic England Pastscape record: Bockidene Grange, monument number 333731
Aerial photographs from 1947 to 1999 held by Historic England Archive
HER SWA1955 and SWA1955a: Record cards from Moated Sites Research Group, 1979 and 1985
HER SWA2272: 1967 Ordnance Survey record card 29NE1, volume 27NE4
HER SWA2394: Pehrson, B. 1983: SMR card PRN2861

End of official list entry

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