Medieval moat at Cranes Farm (EHER 7504)

Water-filled medieval moat at Cranes Farm, in good condition. Investigations between 1969 and 1971 found no evidence of medieval occupation in the central area, but at the north-east corner of the moat a late medieval occupation layer was sealed by a much eroded bank, presumed to be spoil from the moat's construction.

1923. Field survey. A homestead moat at Cranes. <1> August 1950. Moated site Scheduled as Essex 78. May 1953. Field survey. The moat is water-filled and in good condition. Correct as shown. <2> <3> July 1961. Field survey. OS plan card shows two separate arms of the moat - the southern one with an extension, possibly another arm. Both have rubbish tips marked on the edges. <3> Survey at 1:1250. <4> 1969-71. Watching brief and trial trenching. A watching brief and trial trenching were carried out inside the moated area for Ministry of Works 1969-1971. A late medieval pit was found, cut by the moat, but no evidence was found for a medieval date for the moat itself. <5> 1971: Observation by Prittlewell Priory Museum for the Department of the Environment found no evidence for medieval occupation within the moat. Outside the moat, at the north-east corner, a late medieval occupation layer was sealed by a much eroded bank, presumed to have consisted of soil dug out when the moat was formed. <6> De-scheduled in 1981. <7> Probably to be associated with the family of Hugh 'le Crane' (1272). Sometime in the 1920s / 1930s Cranes took over Great Spenders Farm to the South (see EHER 46341). <8> Moat incomplete, rectangular. <9> Sketch plan on back of Moated Sites Research Group card, tracing from OS 25"? <10> Moat (NR) <11> Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import.