Medieval moat at Marshall's Barn (EHER 731)

A small narrow three-sided moat set on level ground, beside a road. It measures 60m E-W and 45m across. The inside has been used as a dump but, although much overgrown, the West, and North arm which has a causeway, have survived water-filled.

Homestead moat at Marshall's Barn. <1> In poor condition. <2> Incomplete, rectangular. <3> <4> Probably to be associated with the family of Andrew Marshall (1548). <5> NRHE data transfer: [TL 6299 0354] Moat [G.T.] <6> 1949. Field survey. Moat in poor condition. <7> November 1975. Field survey. A small narrow three-sided moat set on level ground, beside a road, measuring 60m E-W and 45m across. The inside has been used as a dump but, although much overgrown, the West and North arm (which has a causeway) have survived water-filled. The East arm has gone, probably covered by road widening, and on the South side only a short length of narrow ditch survives. Published 1:2500 survey correct. <8> August 1988. Field survey. The Tithe map of 1843 shows only an L-shaped pond at the NW corner and a small pond alongside the road at the SE as water features, the remaining sides which define the enclosure are shown as hard line features, most probably hedges or drains. The ditches which define the present enclosure are narrow and sharp sided with a maximum width of only 4m at the NW, where the ditch has more substance and can be equated with the pond depicted on the Tithe map; generally the whole appears to be consistent with drainage and ponds around a defined enclosure of possible agricultural function rather than a homestead moat. A rectangular building, with its longest axis N-S is depicted at the NW corner of the enclosure on the Tithe map and also the OS 25 inch map of 1896, and is annotated "Marshall's Barn". The site is currently being used for dumping of agricultural waste. Published 1:2500 survey correct. <9>