Details

The monument includes a large moated site with internal fishponds situated on
a low flat topped hill above ground gently falling to the west. The site is
thought to be that of Pateshull Manor.
The moated enclosure is rectangular in shape with overall dimensions of
156m north-east to south-west by 130m north-west to south-east. The moat ditch
contains shallow standing water throughout its length, averages 16m wide and
is in excess of 2m deep. The north-western arm of the moat is flanked along
its outer edge by a substantial bank up to 1.9m high on the outer side. This
bank continues, although slighter in proportion, around the north-east side of
the enclosure where it has an average height of 1.6m. A possibly original
causewayed entrance 4m wide crosses the east arm of the moat 34m from its
south end; the causeway is at a similar level to the interior platform, which
is roughly level in this eastern area with the surrounding natural land
surface. A second causewayed entrance is positioned in the south-western
corner of the enclosure; this is raised only 0.4m above the level of the moat
and is probably not original. The interior platform is generally flat,
although with surface irregularities which are considered to indicate the
survival of structural foundations.
The northern quarter of the moated enclosure contains a series of small ponds
interpreted as fishponds. Four of these lie regularly spaced in a line
parallel to the north-eastern arm of the moat and 8m in from the moat edge.
They are separated from the moat by a low bank up to 0.3m high representing
spoil from the construction of the ponds. They are all rectangular and average
some 10m long by 6m wide and are 1.5m deep; each contains shallow standing
water. A fifth water-filled pond, 30m long by 4m wide and in excess of 1.5m
deep, lies similarly orientated some 14m to the south of the group of four.
All boundary features are excluded from the scheduling, although the ground
beneath is included.

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.

The moated site 200m north-west of Up End survives largely undisturbed and is
a good example of its class. The size of the enclosed area and strength of the
ditch and bank indicates that it was a site of some wealth and importance. As
well as buried archaeological remains, environmental evidence relating to the
landscape in which the monument was constructed and the economy of its
inhabitants will survive in the waterlogged conditions of the ditch fills and
in the lower sediments of the fishponds.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Other
Card no 0478,

Source: Historic England