Details

The monument includes the buried and earthwork remains of the moated site at
Moat House located at the south eastern edge of Longdon village, on rising
ground at the edge of the formerly marshy flood plain of the River Severn.

The moat island is rectangular measuring some 70m north to south by 40m east
to west and formal access is gained via a modern bridge near the north west
corner. The inside bank at the north west corner has a modern brick and
concrete revetment. The island contains the present Moat House, a late 16th
century timber framed building which is Listed Grade II*. The west and north
arms, which are water-filled and measure up to 4m wide by up to 1.5 metres
deep, are fed by a stream in the south west corner and drain from the northern
arm. The west arm has been widened approximately 6m south of the modern brick
bridge and a second, timber bridge, is situated near the southern edge of the
west arm. This timber bridge is again excluded from the scheduling, although
the ground beneath it is included. The south and east arms of the moat have
been partially infilled at some point in the past, however, their previous
line can be clearly seen as a depression 4m to 5m wide and approximately 0.5m
deep. A further depression 4m to 5m wide by 0.5m deep extends for
approximately 6m to the south from the south east corner of the moat.

The stream that feeds the moat has been diverted, south of the moat,
reportedly at some time in the 1970s. An additional modern moated island, 10m
by 6m, has been created as a wildfowl habitat, to the north of the site, and
this area is not included in the scheduling.

Moat House, the two bridges, the brick and concrete revetment and all modern
fencing 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.

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.

Despite partial infilling the moated site at Moat House survives well as a
good example of its class of monument. The island, which is large, will be
expected to preserve evidence of former structures, including both domestic
and ancillary buildings and their associated occupation levels. These remains
will illustrate the nature of use of the site and the lifestyle of its
inhabitants in addition to providing evidence on the date of construction and
any subsequent periods of use of the moat.

The moat ditch will also be expected to preserve earlier deposits including
evidence of its construction and any alterations during its active history.
The waterlogged condition of a large proportion of the moat will preserve
environmental information about the ecosystem and landscape in which it was
set.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Books and journals
Montgomerie, D H, The Victoria History of the County of Worcestershire, (1924), 112
Pevsner, N, The Buildings of England: Worcestershire, (1968), 216
Other
Bond, C.J., Provisional List of Moats in Worcestershire, (1972)
Record Cards, (1976)

Source: Historic England