Medieval moat at The Rectory (EHER 6981)

The remains of a medieval homestead moat. The western arm has been destroyed.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: Homestead Moat. 150 yards north-east of Ashen Church. West arm has been destroyed. <1> June 1950. Field visit. Moat correct as shown on 6" field sheet and on 6" Record Sheet. Condition fair. <2> <3> 1978. Field survey. On the edge of the village, in a dip in the mansion park. Unoccupied, entered via a causeway, water supply from a stream. Incomplete, rectangular, three-sided. No enclosure bank, flat enclosure. The moat is 7-11m wide, 0.5-1.5m deep to the water. The MSRG researcher thought it was a landscape feature, placed below the mansion (possibly Ashen Hall) terrace, but there seems no reason to doubt that it was originally a moat. No early estate map in ERO however. <4> MSRG card has tracing of Tithe map, showing moat, also a sketch plan of the moat, based on 1885 OS map and site visit. <5> <6> Status unknown, undefined entrance, water supply from surface and spring. Square enclosure plan. The moat is 7m wide, 2m deep (to the water?). Slightly damaged. Ponds to the north. 1983 plan in source 6 shows little change from 1960 OS plan. <7> <8> Sited in a hollow next to the church. Possible 'Tudor' brick found when the moat was cleaned. Island raised 0.5m above surrounding ground. Brick revetment no longer visible but reportedly of 'Tudor' brick. "Original 'Tudor' Rectory within moat shown on deeds". <9> <10> See also: <11> Area = 0.15