Medieval to post-medieval moat or drainage ditch at Minchins Farm (EHER 1227)

A possible homestead moat. However, a 1975 OS survey doubted this, and suggested it may be a drainage ditch.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: Moat (NR). <1> The east arm of the moat at Minchin's Farm has almost been completely destroyed. A dry ditch bisected the island from east to west. <2> <3> Name mentioned 1504, 1540, 1579. From OE 'myncen', 'nun'. The prioress of Clerkenwell had a virgate here in 1199. <4> April 1975. Field survey. It is doubtful from ground remains and the OS 25" that there was a protective homestead moat around Minchin's. A substantial ditch on the south side of the house has now been filled in, leaving only an L-shaped water filled ditch on the west and north side of the house. This ditch is only about 3.0m wide and is typical of the drainage pattern found around 16th to 17th century farmsteads in this region. The narrow dry-cut ditch at TL 61372086 was probably an overflow channel to a farmyard pond, now filled in, but shown on the OS 25". <5> <6> 1977. Field survey. Incomplete, rectangular, possibly double, 5m wide, 1.5m deep to water. One pond, farm and garden in arable land. <7> Tracing from Stokes' sketch from site visit and OS 25" is on back of MSRG card and on back of SMR sheet. <8> Photo. <9> See also: <10> <11> Area = 0.7