Medieval moat at The Old Parsonage (EHER 1221)

A small medieval moated site located on the eastern side of Parsonage Farm. The moated site is roughly square in plan, the island measuring approximately 60 metres across and enclosed on all but the northern side by a broad ditch.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: Moat (NR). <1> Moat at the site of the Old Parsonage. <2> 1950. Field visit. Dry, condition poor, rather shallow, nowhere deeper than 0.5m. <3> April 1975. Field survey. The dry grassed over remains of a homestead moat, of which the east, south, and part of the west arms survive. The average width is about 10.0m and depth 0.5m It is not possible to estimate the former overall size as there is no certain trace of a north arm. A scarp across the north end of the moat is probably associated with a boundary feature shown on the OS 25" that has now gone. There are no remains of a structure within the interior though disturbed ground of former occupation is visible. No buildings are shown on the tithe map of 1843. Published survey (25") revised. <4> - <6> 1977. Field survey. Incomplete, rectangular, about 0.9m wide, 0.5m deep. Pasture is arable. On rising ground above the Chelmer. Shallow ditch in grass surrounds a slightly raised site on 3 sides. Ditch is 0.25-0.5m deep, interior is 0.25m-0.5m above surroundings. No outer bank on north side. <7> Tracing from OS plan card is in SMR. <8> Tracing from Stokes' sketch from OS 25" and site visit is in SMR and on back of MSRG card, section also. <9> <10> Aerial photograph: <11> On 29/08/97 the site was scheduled (SAM no. 31222). <12> Area = 0.35