Medieval moat at Beeches Farm (EHER 7517)
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Summary
Medieval homestead moat surrounding a modern farmhouse, but debris from an earlier building can be seen in the garden. The moat was recorded as partly water filled in 1975.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred TQ 7918 9437 (90m by 89m) |
|---|---|
| Civil Parish | RAWRETH, ROCHFORD, ESSEX |
Type and Period
Description
Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import:
Beeches (NR) Moat (NR). <1>
Homestead moat. <2>
Incomplete, rectangular. Peripheral location near an estuary. Manorial site. <3>
Sketch plan on back MSRG card, presumably traced from OS map. <4>
Probably to be associated with the family of William 'de la Beche' (1255) also mentioned 1345 as 'la Beche' (1462 also), 1374 as 'Bechis', 1384 as 'Beches'. <5>
April 1953. Field survey.
Present farmhouse modern - built 1913. Moat, fair condition, correct as shown. <6>
September 1975. Field survey.
A homestead moat surrounds Beeches (name confirmed). The farmhouse is modern and not outstanding but debris of an earlier building can be seen in the garden. The rectangular moat measures overall 86.0m east-west by 70.0m north-south with arms averaging 10.0m wide. Only the south and west arms are waterfilled, the latter being gradually filled by tipping. Traces of the east and north arm are visible through the garden and farm yard. Published survey (25") revised. <7> <8>
See also: <9>
Sources
- <1> SEX54044 Map: Ordnance Survey. unknown. OS 2nd Edition 6 inch map. 1;10,560. 1919.
- <2> SEX356 Monograph: RCHME. 1923. An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Essex, Volume IV, South-East. p.121.
- <3> SEX24234 LIST: Sellers, E.E.. unknown. TQ79-007.
- <4> SEX24235 Map: Sellers, E.E.?. unknown. TQ79-007.
- <5> SEX10131 Bibliographic reference: Reaney, P.H.. 1935. The Place-Names of Essex. p.193-194.
- <6> SEX75700 PERSONAL OBSERVATION: Ordnance Survey. Field Investigator's Comments. F1 AC 29-APR-53.
- <7> SEX75700 PERSONAL OBSERVATION: Ordnance Survey. Field Investigator's Comments. Stevens, P.A., 29-SEP-75.
- <8> SEX52658 RECORD SHEET/FORM: Ordnance Survey. 1950-1990. OS cards. TQ79SE03, 1975.
- <9> SEX62769 DESC TEXT: Heppell, E.. 2002. Battlesbridge tidal defences. Archaeological survey..
Other References
- Old SMR Number: TQ79-007
- NRHE identifier: 417072
- National Monuments Record: TQ 79 SE 3