Description

The monument comprises the remains of a homestead moat of medieval date surviving as a series of earthworks in an arable field. The homestead moat appears to represent the early settlement of Brigton referred to in 13th-century records and represents a high-status residence of that period.

The homestead moat lies in level arable farmland at around 60m OD. It is defined by a broad ditch which has largely silted up and is now approximately 1m deep. Earlier reports suggest that the ditch was some 13m wide but ploughing in the surrounding field appears to have introduced further material into it, reducing its visible width to 6- 8m. The internal area is a raised, level platform, slightly higher

than the surrounding field. It has approximate dimensions of 65m WNW- ESE by 40m.

There are no visible structures in the interior though

thick vegetation makes observation difficult. The area to be scheduled encompasses the visible features and an area around them in which traces of associated activity may be expected to survive. It is circular with a diameter of 90m as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to add to our understanding of elite residences in the early medieval period. The ditch may be expected to contain waterlogged deposits of great significance for our understanding of the economy and contemporary environment of the site, while the interior is likely to contain evidence for the form and organisation of internal timber buildings.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NO 44 NW 9.

Reference:

RCAHMS (1984) 12, No. 44, The archaeological sites of Scotland series No. 22.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland