Scheduled Monument: Beaulieu Hall moated site (1011025)

DESCRIPTION OF THE MONUMENT This monument consists of a moated site which includes the remains of Beaulieu Hall and gardens. This is a large moated site, roughly trapezoidal in shape, which covers an area of 3.3 ha. The site was originally completely surrounded by a moat ditch which survives on the north, south and west sides of the site. The moat ditch is flat bottomed and up to 12m wide and 1.5m deep. Two water channels originally ran south from the north arm and in the south east of the site are the remains of several small fishponds, one of which is still waterfilled. The moat island is considered to have been occupied by a manor house in the medieval period when the site belonged to Ramsey Abbey. The Montagu family acquired the Manor in 1540, and remains of Beaulieu Hall, built by them in the late 16th century, stand within the moat island. The Hall is a Grade II listed building, and remains of foundations of 16th century and earlier buildings have also been found to the south of the present house. To the west of the present building three small rectangular platforms surrounded by ditches show the position of ornamental gardens associated with the later manor house and a deep double ditch in the south of the site is also considered to be a garden feature. The house and outbuildings on the site 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. Beaulieu Hall is an impressively large moated site with a diversity of well defined archaeological features and potential for preservation of environmental evidence in waterlogged deposits. The site is well documented and is likely to preserve the remains of both the medieval manor house and the post-medieval hall built by the Montagu family. Earthworks of ornamental garden features associated with the buildings are unusually well preserved.

Record last edited

Nov 1 2022 12:12PM