Medieval moated site 100m south west of Torrell's Hall, Willingale (EHER 669)

Small, rectangular enclosure with wide moat, 100yds south south west of Torrell's Hall.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import. Small, rectangular enclosure with wide moat, 100yds south west of Torrell's Hall. Further south are traces of a former ditch. Possibly remains of a small mount and bailey. The smaller moat is in good condition, while only fragments remain of the large moat or ditch. <1> <2> Site visit, 1976 Site is on a gentle, south slope below Torrell's Hall. There is a small, level moated island with further irregular drainage ponds and ditches to the south. The moat is approximately 26m square with the central island 14m across. No trace of a structure was found within the enclosure. 'The feature has an ornamental and landscaped appearance and could well be contemporary with the 18th century extension of the hall'. Published 25" survey correct. <2> <3> <4> OS plan card only is in the SMR. <4> Incomplete, rectangular. <5> <6> Torrell's Hall probably to be associated with the family of Thomas Torell (1427). <7> Site visit, 1988 The island, which is near square and 1.5m high, and surrounding water filled ditch are ornamental garden features undoubtedly associated with the occupation of Torrell's Hall, although probable continuity of the axial symmetry of the garden layout throughout the various alterations to the house (see TL 60 NW 6) make their dating uncertain. Farmyard constructions and encroachment of agricultural land, particularly to the N and W may have destroyed evidence of a more extensive layout of which these features form a part; amorphous scarps in the lawned area to the E maintaining the symmetry of these features suggests the ornamental garden area was formerly more extensive than at present. The irregular ponds and ditches around the site, noted by Authorities 1 and 2, now function as drainage and outfall ditches and in their present form would not suggest any functional connection or symmetry of layout with the moated island, and are most probably agricultural in origin. The site is heavily overgrown and is currently being used as a farmyard dump. Published survey (1:2500) revised on MSD. <8> Although the moated site is too small to contain a large building it may have contained an associated outbuilding, such as a dovecote or lodge, in the grounds of the medieval Torrell's Hall. The present day Hall dates from the 16th century and is thought to overlay its medieval predecessor. <9> Groundworks undertaken at the north and north west of the house in Aug and Sept 1993 as part of renovation of the building. A trench dug E-W parallel to the north face of the building returning to S at west end of the house located no medieval features.<9> Additional reference <10> - <13>