Medieval moat at Maynard's Farm, Little Sampford (EHER 1467)

Surrounding the house is a waterfilled sub-rectangular moat, which has a relatively modern causeway dividing the north west arm, and has two cattle watering places. Of the south east arm, only the north east end remains. A pond by the south angle is probably contemporary. On the island, the fishpond to the northeast has been filled in and some of the former farm buildings have been demolished. No evidence of an earlier house could be seen.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: Moat, fish ponds. <1> Moat complete, has a small fish pond on the north-east side. <2> Moat is in fairly good condition, fish pond in good condition. <3> Single, complete, rectangular, entrance causeway. Moat is 6m wide, 1.25m deep to the water. One fish pond. Named after Symon Maynard. <4> <5> Sketch plan of moat shows part of the south-west angle filled in. <6> Probably to be associated with the family of Simon Maynard (1327). Also mentioned 1529, 1530. <7> Sub-rectangular moat surrounds the house, measures 90m overall north west- south east x 80m. South east arm mostly filled but the remaining ditches are waterfilled, averages 5m wide. Access by modern causeway on the north west arm. Fish pond has been filled. <8> in <1> Moated site and fishpond situated on high ground overlooking River Pant. Moat measures 90m north-west to south-east by 84m north-east to south-west. Causeway 45m wide across south-east arm is considered to incorporate the original access. Fishpond on north-east side has been filled in but another fishpond near the southern angle of the moat remains waterfilled, measuring 40m north-east to south-west by 10m north-west to south-east max. Low earthworks in the field immediately north of the moat are probably the remains of a cattle enclosure, supported by the local name for the field: Pightle. These have been disturbed by ploughing. <9> Area = 0.5 December 1977. Field survey. Surrounding the house is a waterfilled sub-rectangular moat set on level ground. It measures overall 90.0m north-west to south-east by between 80.0m and 90.0m transversely. The ditches have an average width of 5.0m with the water lying 0.5m below ground level. Field ditches connect to each corner and a further ditch is culverted below the road on the southeast side. A pond by the south angle is probably contemporary. A relatively modern causeway divides the north-west arm which also has two cattle watering places centrally disposed. Of the south-east arm only the northeast end survives. A broad break, no doubt incorporating the original entrance, is shown on the OS 25", 1920, together with the southwest end, but that has now been filled in. On the island the fishpond to the north-east has been filled in and some of the former farm buildings have been demolished. No evidence of an earlier house could be seen. Published 25" survey revised. <10> See: <11> <12>