Monument record 155/1/1 - Medieval Moat (Morphed Aerial Archaeology Interpretation)

An earthwork of a large ditched enclousre situated to the north-east of the deserted settlement. Probably a moated manor house

{2}This site has been described on various OS maps as 'camp', 'moat' and 'fishpond but, although it is certainly medieval or later, and was perhaps associated with Astwick village, its function is unclear. First described as a 'moat full of water' by Bridges {3}. The earthwork consists of a roughly trapezoidal depression in the valley bottom; the original course of the stream is still visible across it. This depression is surrounded by a large bank between 1.7m and 2m high, formerly continuous but with two modern breaks through it. Outside the bank there is an encircling ditch cut back 1.5m deep into the hillside on the south, east and north and with a low bank on the north west. There is also an outer bank on the east.

{5} Although there is no confirmatory evidence, either on the ground or on air photographs, the enclosure almost certainly marks the site of the original manor house; there is certainly no trace of a fish-pond here.

{6} Field name: Moat Close

<1> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs, Used with NMR & CUCAP collections (Photographs). SNN104822.

<2> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.52 site 10 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<3> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.168 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77325.

<4> Serjeantson R.M.; Ryland W. (Editors), 1906, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.416 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100369.

<5> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP53SE1 (checked) (Index). SNN443.

<6> 1839, Evenley Tithe Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN8848.

Record last edited

Nov 7 2019 1:26PM