Possible 16th to 17th century moat or drainage ditch at Poplars (EHER 1272)

Irregular moat, incomplete, on south side of the lane, 1.5 miles north-east of the church. Field visits seem inconclusive as to whether it is a moat.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: Remains of incomplete moat of irregular form at a late 17th century cottage, situated 150 yards south of Greenfield's Farm, Felsted. <1> March 1975. Field visit. 'Poplars' is as described, but is externally modernised and not outstanding. On the south side of the house is a V-shaped drainage ditch that has neither the dimensions nor appearance of a protective homestead moat, being a maximum of about 3.0m in width. The ditch fades eastwards and connects with a pond. No moat is shown on the tithe map of 1837 which shows similar detail to the OS 25". <2> <3> 1977. Field visit. Site B on MSRG which suggests possible double moat with that at Greenfields Farm. Site B described as circular about 0.5m wide, 0.5m deep to water, flat. Garden and grass in arable (not clear which site, A or B). <4> Tracing from Stokes' sketch from OS 25" and site visit on back of MSRG card and back SMR sheet. <5> Lower photo of 2 appears to be of this site. <6> Area = 0.2