Summary

A pre-Conquest moated manorial site and mill complex.

Source: Historic England

Details

The monument is formed by two separate scheduled areas of protection. The northern scheduled area contains the remains of the moated site which has maximum dimensions of 78m north-south and 65m east-west. The northern arm and north-west corner of the moat remain visible as an earthwork with waterfilled ditches measuring a maximum of 12m in width. The moat arms to the east, west and south have been infilled and are no longer visible on the ground but are preserved as buried features. The existing Hall is sited in the northern part of the central platform.

The southern scheduled area lies approximately 35m south of the moated site. It contains the remains of a mill complex comprising a mill pond which remains waterfilled, and a dam and tail race to the east which survive as buried archaeological features. A stream running east-west feeds the pond through a brick culvert at the western edge. The mill pond is sub-rectangular measuring approximately 70m east-west by a maximum of 50m north-south and is defined to the east by the dam. The tail race survived as a pond measuring approximately 30m by 5m until the 1990s, but is backfilled and survives as a buried archaeological feature. A C20 concrete lined culvert allows the eastward flow of water from the main pond. The position of the mill site, leats and channel sluice gate is not visible at ground level, but will be preserved as buried features within the scheduled area.

Exclusions

Excluded from the scheduling are all standing buildings and structures, including all modern road surfaces, footpaths and paved garden areas, although the land beneath them is included, and fencing.

Source: Historic England

Reasons for Scheduling

The Sturmer Hall moated site and mill complex is scheduled for the following principal reasons:
* Documentary Evidence: the evidence for the early medieval manorial complex originates in the C10 and Sturmer is explicitly recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086;
* Archaeological Potential: the buried deposits of the moat, building platform, dam and ponds will contain nationally significant information on the medieval environment and economy of the manorial complex;
* Rarity: The buried remains of the moated enclosure around a building platform, within a largely extant manorial landscape evident in both scheduled areas, is a nationally significant survival.
* Group Value: the scheduled monument has considerable group value with the broadly contemporary C11 Church of St Mary (Listed at Grade I) which is part of the manorial complex.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Books and journals
Pewsey, S, Brooks, A, East Saxon Heritage: An Essex Gazatteer, (1993), 78-9
Reaney, PH, Place names of Essex, (1935)
Other
Architectural History Practice Ltd., Sturmer Hall, Essex. Review of Designated Status, November 2011,

Source: Historic England