Details

The monument comprises the extensive rectilinear moat that surrounded
Bromborough Courthouse, known to be located on the site of an 11th century
manor of St Werburgh's Abbey. This site, like the nearby moated site at Irby,
indicates St Werburgh's control over this area of the Wirral in medieval
times. The monument at Bromborough is a striking example of its type. The
rectangular enclosed island originally measured c.170m x 180m giving an
overall area of c.3ha. The moat measures 3.4m max. depth x 18m max. width and
possesses slight internal and external banks. There is a raised platform
towards the centre of the island thought to be the location of the main
original building, with foundations of 17th century buildings demolished in
the 20th century lying to the E. The site has a large internal fishpond in
the NW corner of the island just inside the moat and additionally a large
external one lying to the W of the moat. A small pond, now much silted, also
lies in the E corner of the site.
The concrete bases sunk into the monument to support the elevated pipelines,
the structure located at the junction of two pipelines, the angling stations
flanking the external pond, and all fences and walls are excluded from the
scheduling, although deposits beneath all of these features are 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 moat at Bromborough is a particularly large and impressive earthwork
surrounding the site of the 11th century manor and court house of St
Werburgh's Abbey. The main island is open grassland largely devoid of post-
medieval activity. This monument, together with a similar moated site at
nearby Irby, testifies to the Abbey's dominance and control over this area of
the Wirral in medieval times and reflects the affluence of the church and also
the diversity in size and function of this class of monument.
Additionally, the monument occupies a strongly-defended position by the coast
on the edge of a large tidal inlet. Indeed its location infers that direct
access to water-borne transportation was important, this being an unusual
consideration for such a moated site.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Books and journals
Christie, R C, Annales Cestriensis or the Chronicles of St Werburgh at Chester
Ormerod, G, The History of the County Palatine of Chester
Young, H E, Perambulations of the Hundred of the Wirral, (1915), 37-40
'Merseyside Archaeological Society' in Bromborough Court House, ()
Bromborough Society, , 'Bromborough Society' in Bromborough Society Annual Report (1955-6), , Vol. 23, (1956)
Other
Bromborough Society, Bromborough Society Annual Report (1967-8), 1968,
Cheshire County Records Office, Transcript of List of Deeds Relating to Bromborough Court,
Darvill, T., MPP Single Monument Class Description - Moats, (1988)
Dennison, E, MPP Single Monument Class Descriptions - Fishponds, (1987)

Source: Historic England