Monument record 3253/1/1 - Medieval Moat (Morphed Aerial Archaeology Interpretation)

Earthwork: Non-destructive fieldwork

{1} Moat lies just inside and near the entrance to Higham medieval deer park. It is the site of the keepers lodge known as Great Lodge. The moat is now in a poor condition and much damaged. It forms a rectangular enclosure formerly surrounded by a deep water-filled ditch. The ditch has now been reduced to little more than a drain on its north-west and south-west sides, and largely infilled on the north-east. Only the south-east has retained something of the original dimensions. It was some 10m wide and up to 2m deep from the outside, though only 1m deep from the interior. There is a slight inner bank on the north-west, south-west and south-east sides, but on the north-east a much larger bank lies outside the ditch. The latter is presumably the dam which held the water within the moat.

{2} Earthworks of the moated hunting lodge of Higham Deer Park. In poor condition. Rectangular area defined is 130m x 90m, surrounded on three sides by a ditch 8m wide x 2m deep. There are traces of a slight inner bank to the north-west, south-west and south-east. The remains of a larger outer bank lie to the north-east.

{4} Earthworks of the moated hunting lodge of Higham Deer Park. In poor condition. Rectangular area defined is 130m x 90m, surrounded on three sides by a ditch 8m wide x 2m deep. There are traces of a slight inner bank to the north-west, south-west and south-east. The remains of a larger outer bank lie to the north-east. A causeway crosses the north-west arm of the moat at the point where a small rectangular platform suggests a former building.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1975, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.69-70 (checked) (Series). SNN77379.

<2> Rowley R.T.; Fowler W.J. (Editors), 1974, Council for British Archaeology: Group 9 Newsletter, p.26 (unchecked) (Newsletter). SNN17341.

<3> Kerr W.J.B., 1922, Higham Ferrers Castle and Park, p.150-173 (unchecked) (Article). SNN60514.

<4> English Heritage, 1992, English Heritage Scheduling Notification, (part checked) (Report). SNN47128.

<5> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs, Used with NMR & CUCAP collections (Photographs). SNN104822.

Record last edited

Feb 25 2011 11:56AM