Remains of Medieval homestead moat, Great Claydon's Farm (EHER 5657)

The slight earthwork remains of a homestead moat. The previously waterfilled moat was infilled. Now the material used for infilling has settled the outline of the moat is once again visible.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import. Homestead Moat at Great Claydon's Farm. <1> <2> Field visit, 1962 Rectangular, waterfilled, "in fair to good condition" in 1962, especially the east and south arms. West and north arms were little more than ditches due to ploughing of the adjacent fields on the outer sides. Published survey (25" 1922) correct. <3> By 1971 the moat had been destroyed <4> <5> Field visit, 1975 Confirmation that moat has been completely destroyed. <6> Incomplete, rectangular <7> Sketch plan on back of MSRG card <8> Field visit, 1987 Although being infilled approximately 20 years ago and being described as completely destroyed by <6>, the remains of this moat are clearly discernible in earthwork form, mostly within the confines of a single pasture field. It would seem that the `reappearance' of this moat is attributable to the settlement of the infilling material. The inner platform is well defined, although probably subject to distortion during grading of the site, and is basically rectangular in shape, measuring now approximately 60m NS by 56m EW. A plethora of minor undulations within the platform have been produced by the disturbance. The N arm of the moat, measuring 13m maximum width and 0.4m maximum depth is now only visible for a length of approximately 40m, the continuation to the E arm having been destroyed by infilling. A hedge line has been set along the bottom of the W arm, into which a fall of approximately 0.4m on both sides of this hedge is evident, defining a ditch width of approximately 10m. Although the field to the W of this hedge is under cereal crop, obscuring the surface, this fall represents the original limit of the moat. The whole of the S arm, average 10m wide and 0.3m deep, is traceable although the limits have been spread during grading of the site. On the E side only the scarp of the inner platform is visible to indicate the line of the moat. A small earthen causeway overlaying this platform scarp near the S is modern. A broad swelling, 14m wide,0.2m high adjacent and parallel to the S arm may be a much reduced outer bank, as may be a similar, if slighter (10m wide), feature adjacent to the N arm, although in view of the modern disturbance affecting the site this may be conjectural, indeed these features were not noted during the investigation of the site by <3>. Resurveyed at 1:2500 (see illustration card). <9>