Medieval moat at Clees Hall (EHER 9338)

Remains of a medieval homestead moat.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: Moat (NR). <1> Wright makes this the manor of Alphamstone. <2> Incomplete moat. <3> Clees Hall in 'manor of Fytz Jeffreys….Fytz Jeffreys Stubbyng 1497', le Stubbinge 1508 rental, 'manor of Cles' 1542, 'Alphamston alias Alveston (alias Clees Halle)' 1605, Cleyshall 1640. Originally named from the family of Ralph Fitz Geoffrey de Alfemeston (1248) and later from that of John Clee (1372). <4> <5> August 1976. Field survey. A strong sub-rectangular homestead moat measuring 80.0m north-south by 70.0m east-west. There are three fairly complete arms, the west and south being normally water-filled of average depth 2.0m. The north arm survives as a dry depression 1.0m deep connecting to a large pond at the east end. There is no trace of the east arm the course being obscured by farm buildings. The average width of the moat is 16.0m. It is situated on ground sloping slightly to the south-east and is fed by surface draining. The entrance to the house is by a causeway across the south arm but it is probably not original. Published 1:2500 survey 1954, revised. <6> <7> 1979. Field visit. Incomplete, rectangular. <8> Sketch plan on back of MSRG card and SMR sheet, from 1886 25", recent 25" and site visit in 1979. <9> <10> Copy of OS plan card in SMR. <11>