Details

The monument includes a medieval moated site and associated garden immediately
east of Great Bradley Hall and approximately 50m to the south of the parish
church of St Mary.

The moated site includes a roughly rectangular island which measures up to 80m
north-south by 60m east-west. This is contained on the south side, part of the
north side and the southern end of the east and west sides by a partly
waterfilled moat which measures up to 18m wide and 4m deep. The north western
corner of the moat, together with the greater part of the eastern arm, were
infilled during the 19th century and now survive as buried features. Early
maps indicate that access to the island was via causeways across the east and
west arms of the moat. Today the island is approached across the infilled
western arm of the moat.

Approximately 10m to the east of the south east corner of the moat, and on the
same alignment as the southern arm, is a pond about 50m in length and 12m
wide. The eastern end of this feature adjoins the southern end of a
rectangular pond aligned north-south and measuring approximately 118m in
length, 10m in width and at least 2m in depth. The north-south pond, which
still contains some water, is thought to represent the remains of an
ornamental canal, and it is considered that the two, which may originally have
been connected, were water features associated with an early post-medieval
formal garden to the east of the moat.

The moat is believed to represent the site of the manor of Great Bradley which
was held by Sir Hugh de Lopham at the beginning of the 14th century. Sir Hugh
granted the manor by deed to Sir John Boteturte, and it continued in the
family of Sir John until the 15th century.

Great Bradley Hall, a Listed Building Grade II sited immediately to the west
of the moat and dated to the 16th century, is thought to have succeeded an
earlier house on the island. A converted stable block, part of a farmyard
complex to the north, was partly built over the north west corner of the moat
in the 19th century.

The stable block is excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath
it 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 moated site and associated garden immediately east of The Hall survive
well. The island is largely undisturbed by post-medieval and modern activity
and will retain buried evidence for structures and other features relating to
former periods of occupation. The buried silts in the base of the infilled
sections of the ditches will contain both artefacts relating to the period of
occupation and environmental evidence for the appearance of the landscape in
which the moated site was set.

The ornamental canal to the east of the moated site is a type of water feature
often associated with early post-medieval gardens attached to high-status
houses and the area between the moated site and the canal will preserve
evidence for the layout of the formal gardens including pastures and planting
beds.

Comparative studies between this site and with further examples, both locally
and more widely, will provide valuable insights into the development of the
nature of settlement in medieval England.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Books and journals
Lansdell, W, Moated Sites Research Group, (1978)
Copinger, W, 'The Manors of Suffolk' in Great Bradley Manor, , Vol. V, (1909), 194-195
Other
Ryder, S, (1999)
Title: Great Radley Tithe Map and Apportionment
Source Date: 1843
Author:
Publisher:
Surveyor:
SRO(Bury): T28/1,2
Title: Tithe Map and Apportionment of Great Bradley
Source Date: 1843
Author:
Publisher:
Surveyor:
SRO(Bury): T28/1,2

Source: Historic England