Scheduled Monument: Stoke Doyle Moated Site, Near Oundle (1011034)

DESCRIPTION OF THE MONUMENT The moated site at Stoke Doyle lies to the east of the present village and north of a small brook. The moat is almost rectangular in shape and measures approximately 125m x 100m. The moat island is also sub-rectangular and is completely surrounded by a ditch between 12m and 15m in width and up to 2m deep. The ditches have steep sides and a flat bottom, and although now dry, were originally linked to the stream by a water channel in the north west corner of the moat. On the moat island a substantial north-south rectangular depression measuring about 35m x 5m indicates the location of a former building. Around the east and south east edge of the moat ditches lies an outer bank 0.5m high which assisted water retention in the moat. There is no indication of a causeway crossing the moated ditches to the island and access must have been gained by a superficial bridge. Earthwork remains of the shifted medieval village lie to the north west of the moated site. 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. Stoke Doyle is a small, well preserved moat which illustrates the ideal location for such a site, close to a stream in the bottom of a valley. The site retains evidence of well defined water management features, including a channel and outer retaining banks. The undisturbed island will preserve archaeological evidence and provide information on the construction and development of the building within the moat.

Record last edited

Sep 6 2023 8:48AM