Medieval moat and fishponds at Spains Hall (EHER 1484)

Moat formerly surrounded the house, obliterated except on the north west side.

Moat formerly surrounded the house (EHER 29307), obliterated except on the north west side. South east of the house, were a succession of eight rectangular basins or ponds formerly feeding a mill, existing lake represents two of the ponds, traces of others remain. <1> The mill ponds are 17th century fish ponds. At present only the counterscarp of the north west arm of the moat survives. In 1960 both sides of the moat were clearly defined. Two brick arches at the bases of the walls may show position of a moat. <2> Manorial site, Domesday, mill indicated on 1618 map. One short length of dry moat remains, spanned by a brick bridge and truncated by a brick retaining wall. Double, incomplete, rectangular. Moat is 8.5m wide x 1.5m deep. <3> 1618 map shows a complete, rectangular moat. Now moat is dry, only one side remains, to the north of the house. <4> <5> <6> Photo in EHER. <7> Probably to be associated with the family of Hervey de Ispania (1086), also mentioned 1422-26 (Spayn(e)swo(o)d(e)) and 1596 (Spaynes). <8> Aerial photographs were taken of the parkland in 2024. <9> Series of ponds, fish ponds, built by the owner, William Kempe, in the 17th century. Miss Vaughan (author of source <10>) believes the first pond was begun in 1621-one being made in each successive years until there were seven in all. The 1618 estate map is suggested as being a project and not a finished work. It seems that, before the seven ponds were built, the south east arm of the moat had been greatly extended to form a fish pond. The most south easterly pond in 1950 was in fairly good condition. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th ponds to the north west were still traceable but were in very poor condition, the 5th and part of the 6th were merged to form a boating lake. The rest of the 6th and 7th ponds were obliterated except for the banks bounding them on the north east and south west sides. Two small additional ponds, not mentioned by Miss Vaughan, are probably later constructions. A house at TL 6822 3347 is called Mill End (EHER 29306), lending credence to the RCHM theory that the ponds are mill basins. Maybe they served a dual purpose. In 1952 the slopes of the ponds were well defined though those between the ponds were shallow. Together, the ponds seemed to be cruciform in shape. By 1960 the ponds were still traceable though modifications had been made by gardeners. In 1961 the slopes were well defined in some parts but in others they were only just visible. Pond centred TL 6805 3385 now well-kept ornamental lake. Others extending from this to the south east are mainly overgrown. Owner believes the banks of the original ponds were deliberately breached and "that the smaller ponds were cut out of their beds as ornamental features". Pond at TL 68143367 is surrounded by a low bank with remains of a hedge, is on two levels, seldom contains water. Pond at TL 6823 3382 is also dry, is well-defined and reputed to contain an ice-house in its bank. Deep circular hollow at TL 6819 3364 may be associated with ponds, or may be a marl-pit. <10> <11> Ponds-mill ponds? <12> SEX189 Vol 24, p.49 Tracing of Tithe map of 1834 shows some of the ponds. <13> <14> NRHE data transfer: The series of ponds at Spain's Hall are fishponds constructed by the owner William Kempe, starting in 1621. An estate map of 1618 (<15>) (not in Chelmsford County Records Office) shows them, but at that time it was a projected and not a finished work. Previous to these constructions, the SE arm of the moat has been extended to form a fishpond. <10> <15> June 1975. Field survey. Only the dry NW arm of the moat survives, being crossed by a modern bridge, but an estate map of 1618 (<11>) held by the present owner, Sir John Ruggles-Brise shows a complete moat measuring overall about 80.0m. the SE area having been enlarged to form the first of a series of ornamental fishponds or headerponds for a mill. (There is no ground evidence of a watermill and now there is an insufficient water supply, but note significant names 'Mill Close' at TL 682 337 and 'Mill End' at TL 682334). These ponds survive but some of the intervening bays have been destroyed. Two of them are still water filled but the remainder are marshy or dry. The detached ponds at TL 6823 3382, TL 6814 3368 and TL 6818 3364 (the later filled in) are not shown on the 1618 estate map and are undoubtedly later. Published survey (25") correct. <16>