Details

The monument includes the remains of a medieval moated site located 480m north
east of Wyberton West Hospital and adjacent to Wyberton West Road. It was
formerly in Skirbeck Quarter parish before becoming part of Boston. Following
the Conquest part of the land in Skirbeck, located on the west bank of the
river Witham and later known as Skirbeck Quarter, was held by Eudo, lord of
Tattershall.

The moated island is subrectangular in plan and is enclosed by a broad moat.
The island, measuring 70m by 50m, is raised up to 1m above the surrounding
ground level and would have accommodated buildings such as the manor house and
ancillary domestic buildings. The eastern third of the island is slightly
raised above the rest of the island and distinguished from it by a linear
scarp, which is thought to indicate a subdivision separating the house on the
east from a yard or paddock on the western part of the island. The moat, still
water-filled in places, measures up to 12m in width and 1m deep with low
internal banks lining part of the northern and southern moat arms. The western
end of the northern moat arm has been infilled and, visible as a shallow
depression, will survive as a buried feature. The infilled part of the
northern arm is thought to indicate the location of an original access point
to the island. A partly infilled section of the southern moat arm is believed
to indicate the location of a second, opposing entrance to the island.

All fence posts 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.

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 480m north east of Wyberton West Hospital survives well as a
series of earthworks and buried deposits. Waterlogging in the moat arms will
preserve organic remains (such as timber, leather and seeds) which will give
an insight into domestic and economic activity on the site. The artificially
raised ground will preserve evidence of land-use prior to the construction of
the moat. In addition, the moated site will contribute to our understanding of
the functioning of a relatively high-status component of the medieval
landscape.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Books and journals
Field, N, White, A eds, A Prospect of Lincolnshire, (1984), 42-45
Thompson, P, The History and Antiquities of Boston, (1856), 16-17

Source: Historic England