Site of a medieval moat at Basildon Hall (EHER 7109)

Partially demolished. The site of a rectangular homestead moat and Basildon Hall, now partially built upon by a housing estate. The moat is wide and water-filled at the South end, but dry at the North and East sides.

Homestead moat at Basildon Hall. <1> July 1961. Field survey. Substantial redevelopment in the area, the buildings within the moat have gone, although the moat itself retains its shape. Surveyed at 1:1250. <2> <3> OS card has plan with mutilation and drainage shown, also part of a wall. <2> 1983. Field survey. 'Site now in middle of Basildon New Town Development site, almost impossible to find. Situated in Council housing estate with houses to North and East of church. Dry ditch still visible. Concrete playground constructed at South end of enclosure where ditch is almost totally filled in. Evidence of possible remains of old brickwork showing upon eroded pathway in interior of site. Site situated beside railway line along Clickitt Hill which is a turning off Church Road. South side of moat is wide and water-filled. North and East sides are dry but visible'. <4> Site Assessment = In housing estate in New Town Development site. Concrete playground built at south end of site where the ditch has been almost completely filled in. <4> Dumping of building rubbish in South arm of dry moat reported in 1980. Basildon Estates Department said it would be cleared. <5> Complete, rectangular moat. A rim sherd, from a coarse ware jug, 1100-1150(?) was found on the surface. <6> Sketch plan on back MSRG card (from OS map?). <7> Moat (NR). <8> Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import.