Medieval moat or drainage ditch at Parsonage Farm (EHER 1208)

A possible medieval moat that the 1975 Ordnance Survey field visit considered may be an irregularly cut drainage ditch.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: Possible moat. <1> Homestead moat at Parsonage Farm, Bardfield Saling. <2> <3> April 1975. Field survey. Although possible a homestead moat, it is more probable that this irregular cut U-shaped ditch is a drainage channel. Varying from about 8.0m to 3.0m in width there is no evidence of a near complete water circuit, and not trace of a structure within the orchard interior. Other ditches of similar cut and dimensions, obviously for drainage, extend from this feature. The pattern suggests they have been re-cut on the line of medieval village enclosure boundaries. No tithe map available. <4> <5> 1977. Field visit. Incomplete, sub rectangular, irregular. Moat is 5-7m wide, 1.5m deep to water. Ponds nearby. <6> Tracing of sketch by Stokes from OS 25" and site visit is on back MSRG card and on back SMR sheet. <7> Photo in SMR. <8> Moat (NR). <9> Area = 0.7