Site of medieval to post-medieval farmhouse and moat, Fowe's Farm (EHER 7001)

Site of a 16th century and later farmhouse and associated buildings, surrounded by a moat. The buildings have been demolished and the ponds, which previously indicated the corners of the moat, have been filled in.

Monument description derived from merging EHER 7001 and 7002. Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: Site of farm and moat. By June 1971 the farm buildings had been demolished and the field boundaries dug up. <1> House shown on Chapman and Andre map, 1777, as 'Vaux'. No moat shown. <2> Fowes Farm, house, 1m south-west of the church, is of two storeys with attics. The north-west wing was built probably late in the 16th or early in the 17th century. The south-west wing was added at right angles to the original block, probably late in the 17th century. The gable-ends of the north-west wing have original moulded barge-boards. In the modern porch is some early 17th century panelling, re-used. <3> Site of pre-Domesday settlement. Held in 1086 by Robert de Vaux (other spellings given by Reaney - 'Vals, Valibus'.) Mentioned in 1274 as 'Beucham de Waus, Vaus', in 1392 as 'Vaux', 1462 as 'Vaux by Hedyngham', in 1483, 1484 as 'Vauce(s)'. <4> <5> June 1950. Field visit. Mr Cooper of Hill Farm informed me that Fowe's Farm was originally a moated site and prior to the demolition of the farm buildings by him, the corners of the moat were marked by four ponds (shown on OS 6" 1924). When this site was visited only the two ponds on the south-east side of the site remained, both of which are due to be filled in by Mr Cooper this year. <6> 1950. Record map. Moat. Originally a moated site. The ponds mark the corners of the moat. <7> October 1956. Field visit. Prior to demolition (pre-1950) this was a moated site, the corners of the moat marked by four ponds. All these had been filled by 1956. <8> <9> June 1971. Field visit. Triangular area of rough grass reported, June 1971, south east of the farm. There was no apparent reason why it shouldn't have been under seeded grass like the ground about. Possibly it indicates underlying stone (possibly hearths) though none was seen on the surface. The area is marked on a map attached which shows it to be south of the sites of house and moat. <10> 1978. Field visit. Sited by a stream, in isolated position. Tithe map of about 1840 shows possible moat. Two ponds reportedly remained in 1978, despite OS information. They are shown south-east of the farmhouse on a plan attached to the MSRG card (also on back SMR sheet), based on 1885 OS map and site visit. The 1971 map shows no ponds. <11> - <14> February 1991. Field visit. A moated site reported at this location. Fowes Farm was demolished earlier in the 20th century. <15> July 1993. Aerial photography. Photographed as a cropmark on 13.7.1993. <16> See also: <17> <18>