Details

The monument comprises a water-management complex including a moated
site, fishponds, icehouse and a formal landscaped garden surrounding
Wyeford Farm. The moated site is orientated NW-SE and surrounds the
present farmhouse. It has maximum external dimensions of 70m east-west
by 60m north-south and includes an island with dimensions of 50m by
55m surrounded by a part water-filled ditch. The ditch survives to a
width of c.10m and a depth of up to 2m. The site of the original
entrance may be indicated by the causeway across the middle of the
north- west arm. It appears to have been fed at the western corner by
a channel from the associated fishponds and drained by an artificial
water- course from the southern corner. Associated with the moat are a
series of fishponds, some immediately surrounding the moated site and
others some 300m to the north-west, and a formal landscaped garden
immediately to the east which survives as a complex of channels and
raised platforms covering an area of some 100m square. The icehouse is
of brick construction and occupies a site west of the moat. The site
is considered to represent the manor of "Withford" or "Wyford" held by
William Hotot in 1166. Reference to the site also appears in 1601 and
1605. The listed 17th century brick and timber farmhouse and its
associated buildings are excluded from the scheduling though the
ground beneath these buildings 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.

Although a large number of moated sites are known in England,
relatively few survive in Hampshire. This example is particularly
important as it forms part of a well-preserved water-management complex
which also includes fishponds and a formal water-garden. In addition
the site has high potential for the preservation of organic and
archaeological remains, displays a wide range of archaeological
features and has historical documentation.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Other
Dennison, E and Darvill, T, HBMC Monument Class Description - Moats, 1988,
Dennison, E., MPP Single Monument Class Descriptions - Fishponds, (1988)
Stamper, P, Medieval Hampshire: studies in landscape history, 1983, PhD thesis: University of Southampton

Source: Historic England