Medieval moat at Latchley's Farm, Steeple Bumpstead (EHER 1456)
Please read our guidance about the use of Essex Historic Environment Record data.
Summary
Medieval moat surrounds the manor house which was built about 1520. The moat was still complete, and said to be unusually wide, when recorded in 1954.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred TL 6712 3960 (92m by 84m) Polygon derived from OS historic maps. |
|---|---|
| Civil Parish | STEEPLE BUMPSTEAD, BRAINTREE, ESSEX |
Type and Period
Description
Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import:
Moat. Manorial. <1>
A complete and unusually wide moat surrounds Latchley's Manor House (now a farmhouse). Bridge over moat is 16th century, brick. <2> <3>
Manorial moat - complete and rectangular. Enclosure banks without. Enclosure is levelled, and is revetted on the south near the bridge. Moat is 15-20m wide, averages 2m deep, and is wet. Several fish ponds are now backfilled. <4>
Sketch plan of moat on back of MSRG card. <5>
On an east facing slope. Building is 14th century and later. Enclosure banks on east side, 0.5m high. In excellent condition, no levelling. This source has plan on back with measurements and plan of site in 1960, 1983. <6> - <8>
Probably to be associated with the family of Henry de Lachelye (1310). Also mentioned 1361, 1582. <9>
Manor house dates from about 1520. Jetty of original range is part enclosed, underbuilt elsewhere. The original range has a clasped purlin roof. Part of the jetty is exposed internally. "The inclusion of pomegranates in the carving allows the earlier part of the house to be closely dated to the period between the coronation of Catherine of Aragon in 1509 and her fall from the King's favour in 1526; this is consistent with all other physical features, and forms a valuable check on dating methods in use in Essex".
Bridge over moat is early 16th century, red brick. Aisled barn to south-south-east is early 16th century, timber-framed and weatherboarded. Site Assessment: Original part of house can be closely dated, forming a valuable check on dating methods in use in Essex. <10> <11>
Area = 0.25
This site is included in a survey of moats in the Haverhill area. The morphology of the moat has altered slightly between the survey of 1960 and that of 1983 (see illustration card). <12>
Moat (NR). <13>
See also: <14> - <17>
Sources
- <1> SEX4 DESC TEXT: Unknown. 1960 onwards. SMR form unknown.
- <2> SEX701 Monograph: RCHME. 1916. An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Essex, Volume I, North-West. p.292-293.
- <3> SEX52658 RECORD SHEET/FORM: Ordnance Survey. 1950-1990. OS cards. TL63NE03, 1950.
- <4> SEX5232 LIST: Stokes, A.H.. 1975. TL63-021. TL63-021.
- <5> SEX5233 Map: Stokes, A.H.. 1975. TL63-021. TL63-021, map, 1975.
- <6> SEX5234 LIST: Charge, B.B.. 1983. E19.
- <7> SEX5235 Map: Charge, B.B.. 1983. E19.
- <8> SEX5236 MENTION: Ordnance Survey. 1983. E19.
- <9> SEX10131 Bibliographic reference: Reaney, P.H.. 1935. The Place-Names of Essex. p.420.
- <10> SEX5237 DESC TEXT: Department of the Environment. 1984. List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest: Braintree. p.47-48.
- <11> SEX5238 Graphic material: Hewett, C.A.. 1980. ILLUSTRATION by Hewett, CA. Figs 269, 303.
- <12> SEX5736 Article in serial: Charge, B.B.. 1984. A Survey of Moated Sites Within the Area of Interest of the Haverhill and District Archaeological Group. Journal of the Haverhill and District Archaeological Group. 3. p.153.
- <13> SEX35033 Map: Ordnance Survey. 1950-1969. Ordnance Survey 1:10560 (6 inch) Post War National Grid. 1960.
- <14> SEX5239 Scheduling record: English Heritage ?. 1994. Schedule Entry Copy AA 44232-1.
- <15> SEX57567 Aerial Photograph: Tyler, S.. 1997. CP/97/46/13.
- <16> SEX57566 Aerial Photograph: Rogers, P.. 1993. 501-10.
- <17> SEX74985 Aerial Photograph (Digital): Saunders, H.. 2021. EX21/09/009-011.
Related Monuments/Buildings (1)
Related Events (1)
Other References
- Old SMR Number: TL63-021
- NRHE identifier: 376554
- National Monuments Record: TL 63 NE 3