Medieval to post-medieval homestead moat, The Rookery, Great Sampford (EHER 1443)

Medieval homestead moat consisting of a water filled north east arm 90 metres in length, and a dry south east arm measuring 68 metres. The north-west and south-west arms are represented by a ditch two metres wide. A causeway on the south east arm gives access to the island. At the north angle is an interior pond.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: Moat. <1> Homestead moat west north west of the church and west of Godd's Farm. <2> <3> Incomplete, rectangular. Raised enclosure, 0.5m average height, moat is 5 to 6m wide and 0.25-1.5m deep. Whole site falls to the north east where the water accumulates in the north east and south east ditches. The ditches on the north and west, though smaller and dry, are considerable, enclose raised site. Fish pond internally. <4> Sketch plan of moat on back of MSRG card. <5> Comprises a north east arm 90m long, 5.8m wide and waterfilled, a dry south east arm 68m long, 7m wide, 2m deep, north west and south west arms are represented by a ditch 2m wide. No trace of occupation on island. Access by a causeway on the south east arm. <6> in <1> Site is situated on a gentle north-east facing slope overlooking the River Pant. There is a 2m wide causeway across the south-east arm, and the island is 0.5m higher than the surrounding ground level. The platform has been levelled to create a stepped bank along the north-east arm, rising in two stages from the ditch bottom. At the northern angle of the moat is a waterlogged square fishpond 15m long and 2.5m deep. The moat is also known as 'The Mansion' but was named 'Homestall' on the 1836 Tithe Map. <7> Area = 0.35 January 1978. Field survey. The moat is situated, on a gentle northeast facing slope and consists of a northeast arm 90.0 m long and 5.8 m wide, water-filled by surface drainage, and a dry southeast arm 68.0 m long, 7.0 m wide, and 2.0 m deep. The north-west and south-west arms are represented by a ditch of maximum width 2.0 m. There is no surface evidence to suggest the ditch was once wider. A causeway on the southeast arm near to the east angle, gives access to the island which has been levelled so creating a stepped bank alongside the northeast arm rising in two stages from ditch bottom at 0.9 m and 1.6 m. At the north angle is an interior pond 2.5 m deep which appears contemporary with the feature. The remainder of the island is under light scrub and rough grass and shows no surface evidence of former occupation. The moat is know locally as the 'Mansion', but is named 'Homestall' on the Tithe Map <8>. Published 25" survey (1921) revised. <9> See: Moat (NR). <10>