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Name:	Moated Royal Manorial Site at Bear's Rails, Windsor, Berkshire- SM 12017
HER Number:	00228.00.000
Record Type:	Monument

Grid Reference:	SU 973 738
Administrative Area/Parish:	Old Windsor, Windsor And Maidenhead, Berkshire
Map:	Show location on Streetmap

Summary

A medieval moated site containing a royal manor house. The moat earthworks indicate two phases of design.

Monument Type(s):

MOAT (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1301 AD to 1600 AD)

Description

This monument is a moated Royal Manorial site at Bear's Rails, within the Windsor Great Park. The manor was added to the park of Windsor Castle in 1359. The moat is rectangular and comprises an inner ditch and outer earthworks aligned NNE-SSW. The outer earthworks are considered to represent a second moat, which, although dry, survives to a depth of 1m and a width of between 5 and 7m. The inner of the two moats is far more substantial, is waterfilled and survives in good condition. The width varies from 7m on the NW arm to a maximum of 35m on the SE arm. An internal and external bank survive around part of the monument. One small island is present within the moat. The main island measures 75m NE-SW and 60m NW-SE. Partial excavation on the island in 1919-1920 revealed the footings of large buildings <1>. The site name is recorded by Norden in 1607 <3>.

<1> English Heritage, 1990, Moated Royal Manorial Site at Bears Rails (Scheduling record). SRM13085.

<2> RCHM(E) EXCAVATIONS INDEX NMR NO OS/SU97SE06 (Bibliographic reference). SRW4641.

<3> Norden J, 1607, Map of Windsor and Berkshire (Map). SBF4059.

<4> Kupfermann E, 1986, The Moated Sites of East Berkshire, Pages 119-120 (Unpublished document). SBF5541.

<5> 21/11/83, CUCRC8-FW80-1 (Photograph). SRW119.

<6> 18/01/47, RAFCPEUK1936 4314-5 (Photograph). SRW120.

<7> HISTORY OF THE KINGS' WORKS, P1020 (Bibliographic reference). SRW4633.

<8> 1919, JBAA, Pages 275-7 (Bibliographic reference). SRW4634.

<9> 1920, JBAA, Pages 208-9 (Bibliographic reference). SRW4635.

<10> Harwood, T.E., 1929, Windsor Old and New, Pages 170-1; 293-5 (Bibliographic reference). SRW4636.

<11> THE TIMES 17-9-19 (Bibliographic reference). SRW4638.

<12> 1920, THE ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS 28/2/1920, Page 328 (Bibliographic reference). SRW4639.

<13> English Heritage, 1969, Site of Royal Manor House of Wychmere at Bear's Rails (Advice Report). SRM15882.

<14> English Heritage, 1985, Site of Royal Manor House of Wychmere at Bear's Rails (Advice Report). SRM15883.

Sources

<1>	English Heritage. 1990. Moated Royal Manorial Site at Bears Rails. AA 62819/1. [Scheduling record / SRM13085]
<2>	RCHM(E) EXCAVATIONS INDEX NMR NO OS/SU97SE06. [Bibliographic reference / SRW4641]
<3>	Norden J. 1607. Map of Windsor and Berkshire. [Map / SBF4059]
<4>	Kupfermann E. 1986. The Moated Sites of East Berkshire. Pages 119-120. [Unpublished document / SBF5541]
<5>	21/11/83. CUCRC8-FW80-1. [Photograph / SRW119]
<6>	18/01/47. RAFCPEUK1936 4314-5. [Photograph / SRW120]
<7>	HISTORY OF THE KINGS' WORKS. II. P1020. [Bibliographic reference / SRW4633]
<8>	1919. JBAA. 25. Pages 275-7. [Bibliographic reference / SRW4634]
<9>	1920. JBAA. 26. Pages 208-9. [Bibliographic reference / SRW4635]
<10>	Harwood, T.E.. 1929. Windsor Old and New. Pages 170-1; 293-5. [Bibliographic reference / SRW4636]
<11>	THE TIMES 17-9-19. [Bibliographic reference / SRW4638]
<12>	1920. THE ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS 28/2/1920. Page 328. [Bibliographic reference / SRW4639]
<13>	English Heritage. 1969. Site of Royal Manor House of Wychmere at Bear's Rails. [Advice Report / SRM15882]
<14>	English Heritage. 1985. Site of Royal Manor House of Wychmere at Bear's Rails. [Advice Report / SRM15883]

Designations

Scheduled Monument () 1013168: Moated Royal Manorial site at Bear's Rails

Associated Events:

None

Associated Monuments

MRW316

Wychemere (Monument)

Associated Finds:

None

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