Site of medieval moat, Canewdon Hall (EHER 14990)

Now destroyed. Site of a moat.

Canewdon Moat - church and hamlet all included in the moat area. Now largely filled in and built over by new housing. Hall now demolished and built over also. <1> Morant (1768) recorded that Canewdon Hall 'hath been a strong fortified place, in the manner of a castle, doubly trenched and fenced after the oldest fashion. The remains of the moates are still visible'. By 1867 Benton could still trace some of this double moat, recording that ‘in the place now occupied by the Hall formerly existed a double moat or fosse, specimens of which are now rarely met with. Portions of this fosse on the north, are still extant, and can be traced throughout it extent’. No trace of the moat now survives above ground. The earliest recorded owner of Canewdon Hall and manor was John de Cancellis (Chanceaux) during the reign of Edward I (1272-1307), however it is likely that this was also the site of Swein’s manor-house of 1066. Canewdon Hall was rebuilt in brick in about 1807 by a London builder and tenant called Bullen. Parts of the medieval moated complex were still visible in the mid 19th century. The buildings were demolished in 1966 and the moat levelled. <2> NRHE data transfer: Moat (NR). <3> Homestead moat at Canewdon Hall north east of the Church. (The Hall is early 19th century). <4> April 1953. Field visit. East side of moat is water-filled and in good condition the remainder has been filled in but the west side is clearly discernible. <5>