Monument Type(s):

• FISHPOND (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1540 AD)
• MOAT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1540 AD)
• MOATED SITE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1540 AD)

Summary

Scheduled Monument: A well preserved medieval moated site, with early (14th century and later) buildings surviving in its interior, and associated fishponds.

Related records

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESA3406 - 1980 field observation by Shropshire County Council
• ESA8442 - 2014 DBA and landscape assessment of wind turbines at Criddon Hall Farm, Upton Cressett by The Landscape Partnership (Ref: 13/01983)

Description

Moated site is orientated N-W to S-E with maximum dimensions of 95 x 75 M. The N half of a rectangular moat up to 15 M wide and between 2 and 3 M deep survives as an earthwork. The site visit record form includes a description of the site (including a sketch plan) and describes it as a component of an "important surviving manorial complex consisting of moat, hall, church and DMV and probably represent the finest example of such a complex in Shropshire." <1>

The moat is obscured by tree cover in APs taken in 1989. <7>

Evaluated for MPP in 1990-1: Medium score as one of 133 Moated Sites (evaluated for MPP in conjunction with PRN 00608 - the Hall). <9>

Upton Cressett moat and fishponds are situated around Upton Cressett Hall, 2km WSW of the village of Morville. The moated site is oriented NW-SE and has maximum dimensions of apx 95m by 75m. Where the surrounding moat ditch survives as a visible earthwork, around the N half of the site, it is up to 15m wide and between 2m and 3m deep. The S part of the moat has been infilled and landscaped as part of the house gardens. An outer retaining bank 1m high and 3m wide runs the full length of the NW and part of the NE arm of the moat .. A raised platform, 1 m above the surrounding ground level, covers much of the interior of the moat island .. Upton Cressett Hall [PRN 00608](a C16 structure encapsulating a late C14 Hall) occupies the NE area of the platform. On the NW side of the moat, in an area measuring 60x30 metres, lie 2 large fishponds, each 25 m square. These are surrounded by a bank up to 2 m wide and 2.5 m high which lies to the N of the moat. This bank originally formed a dam across the stream which lies north of the moat. <10>

The Scheduling was amended in October 2012. This applied to the Title, the Description and the Scheduled Area. <12>

Photographed during aerial survey in 2008. <13><14><15><16>

<00> Shropshire County Council SMR, SMR Sheets Collection, SMR Sheet for PRN SA 04581 (Card index). SSA20723.

<01> Watson Michael D, 1980, Site Visit Form with Plan (Field recording form). SSA9442.

<02> Department of the Environment (DoE) & Shropshire County Council, 1973, Correspondence, 1973 relating to proposed WB by G Toms during erection of electricity pole. (Correspondence). SSA9441.

<03> Ordnance Survey, 1977, Ordnance Survey Record Card SO69SE9 (Card index). SSA2397.

<05> Musson Chris R, 1989-Mar-17, CPAT 89/MB/0338 to 0340 (3 photos) (Oblique aerial photograph). SSA19519.

<06> Barret Gill, 1990, G Barrett 90-03-F-8 to 9 (Oblique aerial photograph). SSA16659.

<07> Roberts M, 1990, M Roberts 90-03-BW-06 to 07 (Oblique aerial photograph). SSA16660.

<08> Rowley R T, 1972, The Shropshire Landscape, p123-124 (Monograph). SSA928.

<09> Horton Wendy B, 1990/ 1991, MPP Evaluation File (TEXT). SSA20084.

<10> English Heritage, 1992, Scheduling Papers (New Scheduling, 23/11/1992) (Scheduled Monument notification). SSA9444.

<11> English Heritage, 1992, Map of Scheduled area, 1992 (Scheduled Monument notification). SSA9443.

<12> English Heritage, Oct-2012, Notification of the Amendment of the Moated Site and Associated Ponds ( at Upton Cressett) in the Schedule of Monuments (Statutory designation documentation). SSA24154.

<13> Shropshire Council, 2008-Feb-27, SA0803_102 (1 photo) Flight: 08_SA_03 (Oblique aerial photograph). SSA25719.

<14> Shropshire Council, 2008-Feb-27, SA0803_097 to SA0803_098 (2 photos) Flight: 08_SA_03 (Oblique aerial photograph). SSA25718.

<15> Shropshire Council, 2008-Feb-27, SA0803_030 (1 photo) Flight: 08_SA_03 (Oblique aerial photograph). SSA25566.

<16> Shropshire Council, 2008-Feb-27, SA0803_099 to SA0803_101 (3 photos) Flight: 08_SA_03 (Oblique aerial photograph). SSA26977.

Sources

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.