Medieval moated site, immediately east of Absolpark (EHER 887)
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Summary
A medieval moated site, located immediately east of Absolpark. Scheduled.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred TL 6645 1940 (92m by 89m) |
|---|---|
| Civil Parish | GREAT WALTHAM, CHELMSFORD, ESSEX |
Type and Period
Description
Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import.
Moat north west of the house, well preserved. <1> <2>
Placename from `Abchilde', 12th century, mentioned many times later eg `Abchild(eswode)' (parc de) 1279. <3>
Site visit, 1950
Complete, rectangular. <4> <5>
Other reference: <6>
Site visit, 1975
A rectangular waterfilled moat lies to the NE of Absolpark Farm. It measures 80.0m N-S by 70.0m E-W with arms averaging 16.0m wide. The interior is raised above the surrounding ground level but no trace of building foundations were seen when a tennis court was built within the moat in 1927. Published survey 25" revised. <7>
A medieval moated site located immediately east of Absolpark Farm. Part of this site, the moated site, is now scheduled. The moated site includes a roughly rectangular island measuring a maximum of 40m north to south by 42m east to west. A water filled ditch or moat surrounds the island. The waterfilled moat measures up to 18 metres wide and at least 4 metres deep. Its outer face has been revetted. An extension to the north-east corner of the moat may have been used as a watering place for cattle. The moat is marked on the 1816 map of Great Waltham parish and the 1846 plan of Absolpark. Absolpark Farm, a 17th century building, stands to the south west of the moat and is Listed Grade II. It is believed to have replaced an earlier house on the moated island. <8>
Moat (NR) <9>
Sources
- <1> SEX183 Monograph: RCHME. 1921. An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Essex, Volume II, Central and South-West. Vol 2, p107.
- <2> SEX4 DESC TEXT: Unknown. 1960 onwards. SMR form unknown.
- <3> SEX10131 Bibliographic reference: Reaney, P.H.. 1935. The Place-Names of Essex. p271.
- <4> SEX3276 LIST: Unknown. unknown. TL61-002.
- <5> SEX3278 Map: Unknown. unknown. TL61-002.
- <6> SEX52658 RECORD SHEET/FORM: Ordnance Survey. 1950-1990. OS cards. TL61NE05, 1950.
- <7> SEX75700 PERSONAL OBSERVATION: Ordnance Survey. Field Investigator's Comments. F1 PAS 12-NOV-75.
- <8> SEX59930 Scheduling record: English Heritage. 2001. Moated site immediately east of Absolpark. 33263.
- <9> SEX35033 Map: Ordnance Survey. 1950-1969. Ordnance Survey 1:10560 (6 inch) Post War National Grid. OS 6" 1960.
Other References
- Old SMR Number: TL61-002
- NRHE identifier: 375896
- National Monuments Record: TL 61 NE 5