Details

The monument includes a moated site at Kenney's Farm. Two arms of the moat
survive in good condition and contain water much of the year round. They vary
in width between 7m and 13m. At least one of the remaining two arms, though
filled in, can be plotted and is visible as a low area to the east of the
house. The extent of the moated site would have been approximately 75m square
while the island would have been 50m square. Traces of extensive foundations
were found in the 1930s. The modern house and garage are excluded from the
scheduling.

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.

Although a large number of moated sites are known in England, relatively few
survive in Berkshire. This example is important as it survives well, two arms
of the moat containing water and one surviving as a low earthwork. The site
also has high potential for the recovery of archaeological remains. Traces of
extensive foundations were found on the site in the 1930s.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Other
West Cambridgeshire, Royal Commission on Historical Monuments, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in Cambridgeshire, (1968)

Source: Historic England