Details

The monument comprises a moated site, considered to be the site of Rushton
Hall medieval mansion house, and associated fishponds. The site includes a
grassy island measuring c.55m x 36m surrounded on three sides by a dry moat 9-
10m max. width x 1.5m deep. An outer bank 10m x 0.5m max. flanks the NW and
SW arms of the moat. Adjacent to the SW side of the island is a dry fishpond
flanked on its W and S sides by an extension of the outer bank. A second
fishpond surrounds the NW and NE sides of the site. This pond is flanked by
an outer bank along the W part of its N side.
The medieval house of Rushton Hall was rebuilt in the 17th century and held by
the Hinton family. It was sold in 1864 and today there is no trace of any
building on the level island.
All field boundaries are excluded from the scheduling, however, 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 moated site of Rushton Hall survives well and remains virtually
unencumbered by modern development. The site retains considerable
archaeological potential for the recovery of evidence of the structural
remains of two known building phases of Rushton Hall.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Other
Capstick, B., FMW Report, (1987)
Dennison, E., MPP Single Monument Class Descriptions - Fishponds, (1988)
Dennison, E., MPP Single Monument Class Descriptions - Fishponds, (1988)
Pagination 7, Dennison, E., MPP Single Monument Class Descriptions - Moats, (1988)
SMR No. 1035/1/1, Cheshire SMR, Moated Site 500m SE of Eaton (Rushton Hall), (1989)
Williams, S.R., Treasure No. 4./A169/, (1976)

Source: Historic England