Details

The monument is the moated site in Fleet Plantation near Rampton and includes
a roughly square platform, measuring approximately 70m along each side,
surrounded by a 10m wide ditch with a maximum depth of about 2m. Scattered
brick and tile indicates that a sixteenth or seventeenth century building
formerly stood on the site and this would have been preceded by a medieval
timber building. The remains of a causeway across the moat are visible
approximately mid-way along the north side.

MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.
It includes a 2 metre boundary around the archaeological features,
considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.

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.

The moated site in Fleet Plantation survives well and is a good example of a
small domestic site. Remains of the sixteenth or seventeenth century house
will be preserved on the island as will evidence of its medieval precursor.

Source: Historic England