Scheduled Monument: Ashton Manor Moated Site (1010809)

DESCRIPTION OF THE MONUMENT Ashton Manor moated site lies on the north side of the village just to the north west of St Michael's church. This oval moated site is between 65m and 75m in diameter and encompasses Ashton Manor and its outbuildings. The present entrance to the island may be the location of the original entrance causeway. The ditch of the moat is almost complete, but has been slightly altered on the north side by the placing of a farm track and on the south side a portion has been destroyed by buildings and a garden. The remaining ditch is U-shaped, about 10m wide and varies in depth between one and two metres around the site. It was originally fed by springs on the south east corner and on the eastern side the ditch is still waterlogged. On the west and north sides of the moat, an outer bank 0.5m high is visible. Most of the moat ditch and part of the island are in use as a private garden and the northern part of the moat ditch lies in the pasture land of an adjacent farm. The level oval moat island is occupied by Ashton Manor which is a Grade II listed building. Most of the present house is of 17th century date but it is considered to have earlier origins. The manor house, outbuildings and garden walls on the site and the made-up roads and pathways are excluded from the scheduling but the ground beneath is included. ASSESSMENT OF IMPORTANCE 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. Ashton Manor moated site is of unusual type and plan, its oval shape being considered indicative of an early medieval date. The moat island has potential for the preservation of earlier buildings and parts of the ditch are still waterlogged providing conditions favourable to the survival of environmental evidence.

Record last edited

Sep 6 2023 9:43AM