Details

The monument includes the earthwork and buried remains of a medieval moated
site occupying a low-lying position, surrounded by gently undulating land.
The moat defines a rectangular island, which measures approximately 40m north
west - south east and 45m south west - north east. The arms of the moat were
all originally about 10m wide. The outer sides of the south western and south
eastern arms have been extended to create a triangular shaped pond 30m north
west - south east by 65m south west - north east. All the moat arms, including
the pond, are wet, with the exception of the northern corner. The height of
island varies between 1m and 1.6m, reflecting the undulating nature of the
surrounding ground.
All modern field boundaries are excluded from the scheduling, although the
ground beneath them is 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 moated site 350m north east of Manor Farm, Calverhall, is a well-preserved
example of this class of monument. The moated island will retain structural
and artefactual evidence of the buildings that once stood on the site, which
together with the artefacts and organic remains existing in the moat, will
provide valuable information about the occupation and social status of the
inhabitants. Organic remains surviving in the moat will also provide
information about changes to the local environment and use of the land.

Source: Historic England