16th century moat at Amberden Hall, Debden (EHER 209)

The remains of a 16th century moat contemporary with Amberden Hall.

South of the house is a waterfilled moat delineating three sides of the garden. Each arm is approximately 14m wide and up to 3m deep. There is no trace of the moat having continued around the house due to the sloping nature of the ground and the configuration of the Tudor garden walls. The moat is probably purely ornamental and contemporary with the 16th century hall. <1> - <10> NRHE data transfer: Moat (NR). <11> There are two moats. One, partly dry and with its north arm obliterated, lies to the north-east, the other lies to the south and also has one arm obliterated. <12> 1975. Field survey. At TL 5562 3075 on lower ground are the remains of another moat probably earlier than the present house. Its north arm is destroyed by quarrying (now flooded) and the east arm (shown on OS 1:2500) is filled in. The remaining arms are waterfilled, about 14.0m wide at the top and up top 2.5m deep. There is no trace of buildings in the enclosed area which is level at about the same height as the surrounding ground. Originally the moat must have been rectangular measuring about 85.0m east-west by 70.0m. No further information from tithe map of 1843. Re-surveyed at 1:2500. <13>