Medieval moat, Franklin's Island (EHER 732)

The remains of a homestead moat, although its overall rectangular shape and size of 45m NW-SE by 30m transversely, is small for this region. The arms average 6m wide and are water-filled except for the South corner which is dry and 1.2m deep. The central section of the SW arm has been obliterated by dumping. The interior is overgrown and shows no trace of a structure. Early medieval pottery and tile have been found on the island. The site is scheduled.

Homestead moat at Franklin's Island. <1> <2> Overgrown in places but general condition is fair. <3> Complete, rectangular. <4> <5> See also: <6>. See also EHER733 for medieval pottery found near here. 1993. Field survey The site is heavily wooded and is almost dry. No other structures were found within the moat nor on the platform in the middle. Immediately to the North, in the arable field adjacent to the edge of the moat, is a scatter of tile, brick and some pottery which may have originated from this building. Archive evidence suggests that Franklin's island could have been the site of the park keeper's lodge. It is situated on high ground and would have given a commanding view over most of the park from a viewing tower. It occurs on the estate maps of 1768 and 1840, the Tithe Map and the OS maps as a moat. <7> NRHE data transfer: [TL 6480 0404] Moat [G.T.] <8> 1949. Field survey. Moat overgrown in places but general condition fair. <9> November 1975. Field survey. Franklin's Island; name verified. This is probably a homestead moat although its overall rectangular shape and size of 45m NW-SE by 30m transversely, is small for this region. The arms average 6m wide and are water-filled except for the South corner which is dry and 1.2m deep. The central section of the south-west arm has been obliterated by dumping. The interior is overgrown and shows no trace of a structure. The Tithe map of 1843 shows similar detail to OS 25". Published survey (25") revised. <10> August 1988. Field survey. The moat lies within a piece of neglected deciduous woodland surrounded by arable fields. It is rectangular, now reduced to 42m NW-SE with a width of 30m. The arms are about 7m wide and the ditch is between 1m and 1.4m deep, the SW arm being the deepest. The central section of this arm is partly filled although the exterior line of the moat ditch may be followed. Since the last field visit (<9>) the outer scarp of the SE arm has been covered by dumping and is now obscured. The ditches were dry at the time of investigation. The moat lies immediately inside the Northern boundary of Writtle Deer Park (TL 60 SW 22). The park pale at this point is represented by modern field ditches, and consequently no physical relationship between it and the moat is observable. <11>