Monument record 1884/3/1 - Medieval moat (Morphed Aerial Archaeology Interpretation)

Earthwork: Small scale excavation

{2} The site consists of a small rectangular enclosure, surrounded by a ditch up to 3m deep with no indication of an original entrance. The interior is much disturbed and uneven as a result of excavation but traces of stone wall-footings along the edge of the ditch survive on the east side.

{3} The moat island is almost completely surrounded by a substantial ditch 3m to 4m deep and up to 15m wide. There is an entrance causeway across the ditch in the north-west corner of the moat, and in the north-east corner the ditches have been partly infilled. The moat island is 70m square and in places remains of stonework can be seen just below the surface; when the area was excavated in 1887 remains of stone buildings were discovered.

{4} The main moated enclosure is almost square and measures 212 foot E-W and 170 foot N-S. It consists of a platform with remains of buildings. The moat varies from 35 ft to 50 ft wide but has been partially filled in places.

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

<2> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1975, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.99 site 23 (checked) (Series). SNN77379.

<3> English Heritage, 1992, English Heritage Scheduling Notification, (part checked) (Report). SNN47128.

<4> Council for British Archaeology, 1976, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter (34), 6/25-6 (checked) (Newsletter). SNN104928.

Record last edited

Jan 15 2021 12:28PM