Details

The monument includes the earthwork and buried remains of a medieval moated
site, an area of ridge and furrow cultivation remains and its associated field
boundary ditches. The moated site occupies a low lying position with land
rising to the north and west. The moat defines a rectangular island, which
measures approximately 50m north-south and 58m east-west. The moat retains
water. The arms are on average 8m wide and survive to a depth of between 1m
and 1.5m, with the exception of the southern arm which has been largely
infilled and on its outer side has been damaged by ploughing. Crossing the
island are a series of cultivation ridges, aligned east-west. The remnants of
the strip cultivation system - ridge and furrow - that survive to the north of
the moated site are bounded by former field ditches to the north and west
which connect with the boundaries of the present-day fields. The ridge and
furrow and the former field ditches are included in the scheduling to preserve
the relationship between them and the moated site. Ridge and furrow originally
existed to the south of the moated site but has been levelled by modern
ploughing and is not included in the scheduling.
All modern fences and gates are excluded from the scheduling, although the
ground beneath these features 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 380m south of Moat Farm, Wollerton Wood, and the adjacent
field system survive well despite some disturbance from later agricultural
activities. The moated site 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 evidence about
the occupation and social status of the inhabitants. Organic remains surviving
in the moat will also provide information about the changes to the local
environment and use of the land. The relationship between the moated site, the
cultivation remains and the former field ditches demonstates the changing
nature of the agricultural landscape in this area in terms of use and land
holding patterns.

Source: Historic England