Details

The monument at The Grange includes a rectangular moated site and fishpond
situated on the flood plain of the River Chelmer 550m south-east of Waltham
Hall. The moated site measures 40m SW-NE by 30m NW-SE. The arms are
waterfilled and are between 5m and 12m in width and have been partly revetted
with concrete. A causeway, 9m wide, gives access to the island across the
eastern arm whilst a brick and concrete footbridge gives access across the
western arm. An old beam, considered to be the remains of an earlier
footbridge, is visible alongside the modern bridge. The island is occupied by
a 17th century house with later additions which is Listed Grade II and is
thought to be the original house on the site.
60m west of the moat is a waterfilled fishpond which measures 20m NE-SW by a
maximum of 13m NW-SE. The pond is joined to the moat by a channel which is
approximately 2m wide and is waterfilled. A modern concrete footbridge crosses
the channel at the northern tip of the pond. The drainage ditches to the
north-east and south of the enclosure are considered to be later drainage
channels and are not part of the moated site.
The house, modern footbridges, drainage tank and paths are all excluded from
the scheduling, though the ground beneath them is included.

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 Grange moated site is well preserved and will retain archaeological
information pertaining to the occupation of the site while the waterfilled
ditches will also retain environmental evidence relating to the economy of its
inhabitants and the landscape in which they lived.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Other
SMR NO; 4568, Information from SMR,

Source: Historic England