Medieval moat at Thunderley Hall, Wimbish (EHER 1945)

Associated with the house are the remains of a homestead moat. When visited in 1989, the waterfilled east, south and part of the west arms were visible, with the possible northern arm of the moat indicated by a gentle fall of the land, although this was not surveyed.

Moat, incomplete, rectangular in plan with three fishponds. Width: 9m, depth: 1-2m to water. The site slopes to the west so that the water collects on this side and the rest is dry. The whole could never have held water. Until the 15th century Thunderley was a separate village with a church near the hall. <1> - <5> Site of Domesday manor. Five beehives. <6> According to Morant the formerly separate parish of Thunderley was united with Wimbish in 1425. <7> Reaney gives a number of references to the placename. <8> 2020. Watching brief. Watching brief identified moat was backfilled in post-medieval period. <9> See also: <10> NRHE data transfer: 1969. Field survey. Remains of a homestead moat, water-filled and in fair condition comprising the east, south and part of the west arms. <11> 1989. Field survey. The moat arms remain as described by auth 3 although they are overgrown. A possible north arm to the moat was indicated by a gentle fall for 10m across a vegetable garden (not surveyed). Any further evidence for this arm or the former extent of the west arm is masked by farmyard tracks and outbuildings. <12>