Monument record 720/1/1 - Medieval Moat (Morphed Aerial Archaeology Interpretation)

Earthwork: Non-destructive fieldwork

{4} SP68854504 Site of Manor House Moat. In summary: The manor house of Whittlebury stood in Lord's fields north of the village. The moat, which surrounded it, still remains and a farm house occupies the area. The moat is waterfilled but the level varies with the seasons. No foundation remains were seen on the island.

{5} Earthworks of a water-filled moat, but there are no foundations to be seen on the island. The sub-rectangular island is enclosed by a broad moat 1m deep. A causeway crosses on the north-east side. The island is uneven but there are no distinguishable features. The present farm stands to the north-east.

{6} Moat lies in an isolated position north of the village at Lord’s Field Farm, on Boulder Clay at 145m OD with extensive views to the north-west. The site now consists of a sub-rectangular island surrounded by a broad wet moat 1m deep with a causeway across it on the north-east. The island is uneven but no distinguishable features remain; the present farm lies to the north-east. The earliest depiction of the site is on a map of about 1726 (NRO). This shows the island as rectangular with a large building on it and a bridge across the ditch on the east near the south-east corner leading to other buildings which appear to be barns. On a later map of about 1767 (NRO) the same details are shown and a fenced paddock is depicted to the west of the site.

{7} This moated site lies to the south west of Lordsfields Farm and is approximately 40m square. The moat island is surrounded by a substantial ditch approximately 10m wide and 1.5m deep which has small extended arm in the north western corner. Parts of the north east and the north west corners of the moat ditches are waterlogged. A small outer bank about 0.5m high is preserved on the west side of the moat and the central island is oval and measures approximately 20m x 17m. This moat is considered to be the site of the manor house of Whittlebury and maps of the early eighteenth century show a building on the island with a bridge across the ditch near the south east corner. At present access to the island is by a narrow causeway on the east arm.

<1> 1958, OS 6 INCH MAP, (unchecked) (Map). SNN12655.

<2> Baker G., 1830, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.70 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77328.

<3> OS 25 INCH MAP, (unchecked) (Map). SNN12436.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP64NE7 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<5> SUPPLEMENTARY FILE, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN52262.

<6> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.169 Site 6 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<7> English Heritage, 1992, English Heritage Scheduling Notification, (part checked) (Report). SNN47128.

<8> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs, Used with NMR & CUCAP collections (Photographs). SNN104822.

Record last edited

Mar 25 2015 5:15PM