Details

The monument is a moated site with two fishponds, one of two at Parkhouse
Farm. It includes a slightly raised sub-rectangular island measuring 30m
by 25m, surrounded by a wet, spring-fed moat 5m wide and 1.5m deep. An
external bank survives on the northern, eastern, and southern sides of the
moat. This is 5m wide and up to 0.5m high. On the western side of the moat,
two fishponds have been created by extending the northern and southern arms of
the moat westward. Each pond is 30m long and 10m wide. The northern pond has
been infilled but remains visible as an oval depression in the ground surface
0.2m deep. The southern pond still survives as a pond although it may have
been partially recut. The site does not have a causeway suggesting that access
was originally provided by a wooden bridge across the moat.
The boundary of the scheduling is drawn 5m from the outer edge of the moat, to
include the external bank on the north-western, north-eastern, and south-
eastern sides of the moat. The scheduling boundary extends 30m in a straight
line in a south-westerly direction, beyond the south-western arm of the moat
enclosing the two fishponds, and completes the circuit running parallel to the
south-western arm of the moat.
The monument is thought to date from the 16th century when Henry VIII caused
the Leconfield Deer Park to be extended into the parish, and may be the brick
lodge described by Leland as well-built and 'made for a house of pleasure'.

MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.

Source: Historic England

Reasons for Scheduling

Around 6,000 moated sites are known in England. They consist of wide ditches,
often or seasonally water-filled, partly or completely enclosing one or more
islands of dry ground on which stood domestic or religious buildings. In some
cases the islands were used for horticulture. The majority of moated sites
served as prestigious aristocratic and seigneurial residences with the
provision of a moat intended as a status symbol rather than a practical
military defence. The peak period during which moated sites were built was
between about 1250 and 1350 and by far the greatest concentration lies in
central and eastern parts of England. However, moated sites were built
throughout the medieval period, are widely scattered throughout England and
exhibit a high level of diversity in their forms and sizes. They form a
significant class of medieval monument and are important for the understanding
of the distribution of wealth and status in the countryside. Many examples
provide conditions favourable to the survival of organic remains.

Despite partial re-cutting of the moat and the southern fishpond, the moated
site 80m south-west of Parkhouse Farm remains a good example of a small moated
site. The central island remains unexcavated and will retain evidence of
structures on it. Additionally organic remains will be preserved within the
waterlogged moat.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Books and journals
The Victoria History of the County of the East Riding of Yorkshire, (1979)
Le Patourel, H E J, Moated site of Yorkshire, (1973), 114
Le Patourel, H E J, Moated site of Yorkshire, (1973), 114
Loughlin, N, Miller, K, Survey of Archaeological Sites in Humberside, (1979), 26
Toulmin-Smith, L, John Leland's Itinerary, (1964)

Source: Historic England