Details

Thonglands moated site lies 800m south east of the village of Broadstone and
just to the south of Trow Brook.
The moated site is oval in shape and measures 62m north-south by 95m east-
west. The moat ditch survives on all but the north east side where it has been
infilled and partly overlain by farm buildings. The moat ditch is waterfilled
on the west and south sides and survives as a dry ditch on the east side. On
the south side it is crossed by a narrow earth-covered causeway representing
the remains of a stone bridge. The ditch is between 8m and 10m wide and up to
2m deep. The moat island is raised about 0.5m above the surrounding ground
level. It is occupied by a farmhouse, Listed Grade II, part of which dates
from the 17th century. A medieval manor house is thought to have occupied the
same location. The island also contains the ruined remains of a medieval
circular dovecote, 6m in diameter and 10m high, with nesting boxes for 250
birds.
The moat is considered to have been a manorial site, possibly associated with
a chapel. The exact location of the chapel, although marked as being adjacent
to the moat, is unknown.
All made-up roads and paths, the listed farmhouse and all farm buildings on
the site are excluded from the scheduling, but the dovecote and the ground
beneath all these features 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.

The Thonglands moat is of unusual oval form and is the location of a medieval
manor with a variety of features including a dovecote. The moat island and
much of the waterfilled ditch are undisturbed and will retain considerable
archaeological evidence.

Source: Historic England