Details

The monument is the moated site of Bradlegh Old Hall and its fishpond. The
site includes a rectangular island c.58m x 52m upon which stands Bradlegh Old
Hall and its outbuildings, a 15th century sandstone gatehouse through which
the driveway passes to the Hall, and well tended lawns and shrubs.
Surrounding the island is a waterlogged moat averaging c.12-14m wide x 1.4m
deep. Water feeds into the W arm via a pipe and exits by an outlet pipe in
the E arm.
Along the W half of the N arm the outer scarp has been given a shallower
batter to measure c.25m across at this point. Access to the island is across
the N arm via a modern causeway leading to the gatehouse that replaced an
earlier stone bridge. A short distance to the W of the moat is a narrow L-
shaped fishpond - its N arm measuring c.60m long x 8m wide, and its W arm
measuring c.30m long x 8m wide before opening out at its S end into a sub-
rectangular dry hollow c.20m x 14m x 1.5m deep.
Bradlegh Old Hall was originally a 15th century moated manor house of which
only the gatehouse and moat remain. The present building is late 16th century
incorporating earlier features. The hall and gatehouse are both Listed
Buildings Grade II.
Bradlegh Old Hall, its outbuildings and service pipes; the gatehouse, driveway
and sandstone flanking walls the modern causeway; the moat inlet and outlet
pipes; an oil storage tank, all fences, flagged areas, and an ornate timber
feature on the E lawn, are all excluded from the scheduling. The ground
beneath all these features, however, is included. The monument includes two
separate protected areas.

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 monument is a well preserved example of the site of a late medieval moated
manor house. The monument retains its original 15th century gateway and
considerable evidence of the original Bradlegh Old Hall will survive beneath
the present house and gardens. Additionally the waterlogged moat and fishpond
will preserve organic material.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Books and journals
Farrer, , Brownbill, , The Victoria History of the County of Lancashire, (1907)
Farrer, J, Brownbill, W (eds), The Victoria History of the County of Lancashire: Volume II, (1908)
Other
Darvill, T., MPP Single Monument Class Description - Moats, (1988)
Dennison, E., MPP Single Monument Class Descriptions - Fishponds, (1988)
DOE, List of Buildings of Historic & Architectural Interest,
DOE, List of Buildings of Historic & Architectural Interest,
Owen (Site Owner), To Robinson, K.D. MPPFW, (1990)
Ref No. 559/1/2, Cheshire SMR, Bradlegh Old Hall, (1988)

Source: Historic England