Monument record 2523/1/2 - Upper Lyveden Moated Site

Earthwork remains of a square moated site. The island is about 25m square and is surrounded by a ditch up to 2m deep and between 10-20m wide. Medieval pottery, including st Neots Ware, has been found around the site.

{2} A moat situated north-west of Bearshank Woods, Pilton.

{4} The moat is perched on the higher slopes of the valley and its ditches are filled by seepage of water from the hillside above. The site consists of a near-square island, 2m across, completely surrounded by a deep ditch up to 20m wide. On the south-east side, the water is held in the ditch by a massive retaining bank or dam 2.5m high. Medieval pottery, including St Neots Ware, has been found around it.

{5} This moated site lies to the north east of Lyveden Manor and is sited upon the higher slopes of the valley. The moat island is about 25m square and is surrounded by a flat bottomed ditch up to 2m deep which varies between 10m and 20m in width. Water for the moat ditches was supplied both by seepage down the hill side and by a spring. A bank about 2m high assisted water retention in the ditch on the south eastward, downhill side, and the widest ditch on the south east is still partially waterlogged. Around the site medieval pottery, including St Neots ware, has been found. The moat is historically documented as being a prestigious residence which was closely associated with the two fishponds and ploughed earthwork remains of the medieval village to the west. Finds nearby have included remains of kilns, and considerable quantities of medieval pottery.

{6} The moat was surveyed in 1975. The moat varies in width from 30ft to 70ft. A thick limestone spread with pottery scatter extends about 100yds north-west of the moat; it seems to be the ploughed-out foundations of medieval houses and is paralleled by the site at Potters Lyveden.

{8} Published survey of moat (25" undated) revised. Associated fish ponds to the immediate S.W. - resurveyed at 1/2500.

{9} Survey of 17.4.62 correct but the water level is apparently subject to seasonal variations.

<1> OS 6 INCH MAP, (unchecked) (Map). SNN42919.

<2> Serjeantson R.M.; Ryland W. (Editors), 1906, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.412 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100369.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP98NE6 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<4> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1975, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.73/Site 8 (unchecked) (Series). SNN77379.

<5> English Heritage, 1992, English Heritage Scheduling Notification, (part checked) (Report). SNN47128.

<6> Aberg, A (Ed), 1976, Moated Sites Research Group Report 3, p. 11 & plan (Monograph). SNN66232.

<7> Council for British Archaeology, 1976, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter (34), p. 25 & Fig 4 (Newsletter). SNN104928.

<8> Seaman, B H, 1962, Field Investigators Comments, F1 BHS 17-APR-62 (Note). SNN113373.

<9> Seaman, BH, 1969, Field investigators comments, F2 BHS 12-SEP-69 (Notes). SNN111907.

<10> Royal Air Force, Vertical Aerial Photography, A/P (RAF VAP CPE/UK/2109 3420-1) (Photographs). SNN104890.

<11> Jackson D., 1970, Fieldwork and Excavation in North Eastern Northamptonshire, p. 41-2 (Article). SNN4821.

<12> Brown, A.E. (Ed.), 1969, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1967/68 (Medieval), p. 20 (Article). SNN57956.

Record last edited

Sep 19 2023 12:46PM