Scheduled Monument: Place House Moat & Fishpond (1009513)

DESCRIPTION OF THE MONUMENT The site of Place House lies to the west of the village of Whiston in the parish of Cogenhoe and is located in the bottom of a steep sided valley which drains into the River Nene. The monument consists of a moated site and an associated fishpond. The moat lies in the south of the site and has an island approximately 35m square, which is surrounded on the west, east and south sides by a partially waterlogged ditch about 2m deep and 8m to 10m wide. On the north side the ditch has been filled in and the moat island is very overgrown. To the north west of the moat lies a large L-shaped fishpond approximately 110m long, which has retaining banks on the north west and north east sides up to 2m high. Water for the pond and moated system was supplied by the stream which runs along the western edge of the site. Adjacent to the large pond, on a small square platform on its eastern side, stands the existing building of Place House, also known as Moat Cottage. This is a Grade II listed building, of 16th century date with 20th century additions. The structure incorporates 14th century material from an earlier building which was constructed after the original moated house had been abandoned. The manor of the village is known to have been held by the Abbey of Ramsey from the late 10th century until 1554, and was occupied by a series of tenants throughout this time. The moat is considered to have been constructed in the late 12th or early 13th century when the de Whiston family lived at the manor house. Place House and its outbuildings and all made up roadways and pathways on the site are excluded from the scheduling, but the ground beneath these features 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. The monument at Place House is a high status manorial moated site with well documented historical connections with the influential Northamptonshire branch of the de Whiston family. It survives in good condition and presents a typical example of a combined moated site and fishpond. The moat retains considerable potential for the preservation of remains of the various buildings known to have occupied the central island.

Record last edited

Aug 18 2022 11:30AM