Details

The monument comprises the moated site of Kimberworth Manor. It includes a
complex of medieval stone buildings, located around the present building by
partial excavations undertaken between 1975 and 1980 by Rotherham Archaeo-
logical Society, and also the moat which formerly surrounded this complex.
The present house, which is a Grade II Listed Building and is excluded from
this scheduling, is basically seventeenth century but includes some medieval
remains. One of the buildings located in the immediate vicinity of this
building was an aisled hall. Other building remains are interpreted as an
earlier manor house. To the north-west of the present house, the remains of
a medieval building are still evident incorporated into a boundary wall. The
infilled moat was identified as running parallel with the modern boundary.
In the Middle Ages the manor was part of the Honour of Tickhill and, after
the Norman Conquest, was held by Roger de Busli whose descendents retained
it until the mid or late thirteenth century. Some time before this, de
Busli's family abandoned the original motte and bailey castle at Kimberworth
for the site of the present Kimberworth manor, 250m downslope to the south.
From c.1300 the site was the principal residence of Idonea de Vipont. A
large deerpark was once associated with the site but is now obscured by
later development. All buildings, modern features, modern walls, hedging and
surfaces of paths, driveway and car-park are excluded from the scheduling.
The ground underneath, however, is included.

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.

Kimberworth moated site was the centre of an important medieval manor whose
historical context is well-documented. Also notable is its close
association with the earlier manor site at Kimberworth motte and bailey
castle. Partial excavation of the site has established the survival in situ
of substantial medieval manorial remains. Extensive areas remain
unexcavated, however, and the archaeological potential of the site, despite
some disturbance due to later building, is considerable.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Books and journals
Addy, S O, The Hall of Waltheof, (1893), 183
Guest, J, Historical Notices of Rotherham, (1879), 586
Hunter, J, South Yorkshire , (1831), 26-28

Source: Historic England