Details

The monument includes a sub-rectangular moated site situated on high ground
1.25km south-west of St Mary and St Clement's Church, Clavering. The moated
site measures 58m NW-SE by 54m NE-SW. The south arm was partly infilled
during road improvements in 1921. The other arms, however, remain waterlogged
and are an average of 12m wide. An external bank, 2m wide and approximately
0.5m high is located on the northern and eastern arms of the moat. The
interior of the moat is raised approximately 0.8m from the surrounding ground
level. Documents from 1332-1333 describe the construction of part of the
homestead moat.
The name of the site is known from 1484 and is thought to be associated with
Robert Starlyng and his family.

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 homestead moat at Starling's Green is well preserved and will retain
archaeological information relating to the occupation of the site. The
waterlogged ditches will retain environmental evidence pertaining to the
economy of its inhabitants and the landscape in which they lived. The
monument has historical documentation relating to its construction in the 14th
century.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Books and journals
Reaney, PH, Place names of Essex, (1935)

Source: Historic England