Monument record 4538/5 - Possible site of medieval manor, Manor Farm

By the early 18th century, the medieval manor was entirely ruined. Manor Farm is thought to have been constructed on its site. An undated, though substantial, wall foundation observed during drainage work in 2019 some 30m to the north of Manor Farm may be associated with the manorial complex.

{2} The old manor house is entirely ruined and the foundations all dug up; but the marks of large ponds are still standing. The new house now called the Hall, lies north of the church.

{3} To the north west of the church lies the Manor farm, built on the site of the old manor house, with traces of ponds still remaining. Bridges, writing about 1720, speaks of it as 'the new house, now called the Hall'.

{4} T. Welsh believes that it is possible that the site of the old manor house was on the hilltop next to the church, within an early defensive circuit and not at the site of Manor Farm. He thinks that the VCH entry (which suggests that Manor Farm was built on the site of the old manor house) is a rather confused version of Bridges statement: "The old manor house is entirely ruined and the foundations all dug up; but the marks of large ponds are still remaining. The new house now called the Hall, lies north of the church."

{5} Excavation of a soakaway at c SP7835 6663 adjacent to a manure compound revealed a substantial wall foundation broadly east-west aligned at least eight courses high and constructed of roughly coursed limestone or ironstone rubble. Only one face was observed; the width of the foundation is not known but it was at least 1m long. The top of the foundation lay immediately below the topsoil, although historic maps (dating back to the late 19th century) do not show any buildings in this area from at least that period onwards.

<1> A History of Northamptonshire, p.88 (unchecked) (Chapter). SNN57524.

<2> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.417 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77325.

<3> Salzman L.F.(ed), 1937, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.88 (checked) (Series). SNN100371.

<4> Welsh T.C., 1999, Manor Farm, Moulton; Medieval Ponds SP782665 to SP783665, (checked) (Notes). SNN101327.

<5> Thompson, P., 2019, Old wall at Manor Farm, Moulton (Note). SNN111607.

Record last edited

Mar 6 2020 2:24PM