Rolls medieval homestead moat (EHER 4225)

A round moat at Rolls farm is thought to date from the medieval period. It originally measured approximately 130m north-south and 80m east-west, the arms being up to 8m wide.

Round moat at Rolls. <1> 1370m (1500 yards) west-south-west of the church. Moat incomplete. <2> 'Rolls' mentioned in 1539 according to <3>. The name 'Rolles' is first known from 1539 according to <4>. Moat, more than half survives, is curved in shape and of considerable size. Probably originally oval-shaped, only the south half and west side remain waterfilled and in good condition. Original dimensions were in the order of 130m north-south x 80m east-west, the arms being up to 8m wide. <1> <2> <4> <5> Moat is irregular, the backfilled north east corner bends outward making the moat sub-triangular rather than oval. When cleaned in 1959 the moat was found to be 3m (10 feet) deep at its widest point, it is 4m to 6m wide, widening to form a pond at one point. <6> Sketch plan on back of MSRG card. <7> NRHE data import: The moat at Rolls, more than half of which remains, is curved in shape and of considerable size. <4> September 1971. Field Survey. Probably originally an oval-shaped homestead moat of which the southern half and western side remain water-filled and in good condition. Of the remainder of the circuit there is now no trace, the land being occupied by farm buildings and the gardens of the house. The moat measured overall some 130m north-south by 80m transversely, the ditch being up to 8.0m in width. To the north-east an enclosure, now kitchen gardens, is bounded by the fragmentary remains of a deep, once-waterfilled ditch, 5m in width, which is probably contemporary with the moat. No 16th or early 17th century or earlier, work was noted (as referred to in <4>). <8>