Details

The monument is situated in the bottom of a valley adjacent to a tributary of
the River Alne and includes a moated site and an area of ridge and furrow
cultivation.
The moated site has external dimensions of 72m south west-north east and 68m
north west-south east. The moat arms measure up to 10m wide and 1.5m deep and
are seasonally waterlogged. The north western moat arm projects north
eastwards towards the stream for a distance of c.5m and originally formed the
inlet channel for the moat. External banks are visible along the north western
and south eastern arms of the moat. The moated island measures approximately
50m square and has internal banks on the north western and north eastern
sides. The raised island has a level surface and there is a slight projection
at the western corner. There is no visible evidence for the original access
onto the island.
To the south east of the moated site are the earthwork remains of ridge and
furrow cultivation. The ridge and furrow respects the moated site and the
relationship between the two features illustrates the impact the moated site
had on the land use of the surrounding area. The ridge and furrow is aligned
north west-south east and a 12m wide sample is included in the scheduling in
order to preserve the relationship between the ridge and furrow and the moated
site.

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.

The moated site north west of Preston Hill Farm survives well and is
unencumbered by modern development. The moated island will retain
archaeological information for the buildings or other structures which
originally occupied it and the naturally silted moat arms will retain evidence
for the environment and economy of the occupants of the moated site.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Other
Stocker, D.A., (1993)

Source: Historic England