Monument Type(s):

• MOAT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1540 AD)
• MOATED SITE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1540 AD)
• FARMHOUSE (16th century to Late 18th century - 1500 AD to 1799 AD)

Summary

Scheduled Monument: An unusual roughly circular medieval moated site, built in an elevated position (possibly for defence), and now containing an 18th century (or earlier) farmhouse.

Related records: None recorded

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESA443 - 1967 field observation by the Ordnance Survey
• ESA444 - 1980 field observation by Shropshire County Council

Description

(In 1908) Fragmentary, only two segments remaining <1a>

Three sides survive of a roughly rectangular moated site. The W arm has been destroyed and built over by farm buildings. A causwayed entrance survives at the NE corner. The S arm and part of the E arm are waterfilled. There is an extension of the moat ditch at the SE corner, leading from which is a drainage ditch. Slight undulations are visible in the field immediately to the S of the moat. M Watson FI 1980 <2>

Evaluated for MPP in 1990-1, Medium score as one of 133 Moated sites <4>

Scheduled in 2001. Scheduling description: ->

-> The monument includes the earthwork and buried remains of a medieval moated site located in an area of undulating land and occupying an elevated position, with the ground falling away in all directions. The moat defines a polygonal sub circular island, between 50m and 60m across. The arms of the moat are between 8m and 12m wide. The eastern and northern arms are dry and steep-sided, and are up to 3.3m deep, while much of the southern arm retains water. A later drainage channel extends from the south western corner of the moat and is not included in the scheduling. The western arm has been infilled, but survives as a buried feature. This part of the moat is shown as having been infilled on the earliest large scale Ordnance Survey map, published in 1885. Material excavated during the construction of the moat has been used to raise the surface of the north western part of the island by about 1.8m above the level of the surrounding land. This part of the island is occupied by The Bower, a farmhouse of mainly 18th century date which incorporates an earlier timber-framed building. The original means of access onto the island was via a causeway, about 7m wide, which crosses the northern part of the eastern arm. ->

-> The farmhouse and outbuildings, all paths, driveway and yard surfaces, a shed and the concrete base of a former pig sty, all modern walls and fences, all ornamental garden features, a cast iron water pump and an electricity pole are excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath all these features is included. ->

-> The Bower is a well preserved example of a subcircular moated site, a type which is relatively uncommon nationally and is thought to early medieval. Moated sites occupying elevated positions are also uncommon <5>

Photographed during aerial survey in 2008. <6><7>

<00> Shropshire County Council SMR, Site and Monuments Record (SMR) cards, SMR Card for PRN SA 00415 (Card index). SSA20722.

<01a> Victoria County History, 1908, Victoria County History 1, p403 (Volume). SSA178.

<01> Ordnance Survey, 1967, Ordnance Survey Record Card SO57SE2 (Card index). SSA1818.

<02> Watson Michael D, 1980, Site Visit Form (Field recording form). SSA1819.

<03> Musson Chris R, 1988-Mar-04, CPAT 88/03/0021 to 0022 (2 photos) (Oblique aerial photograph). SSA16465.

<04> Horton Wendy B, 1990/ 1991, MPP Evaluation File, Moated Sites (TEXT). SSA20084.

<05> English Heritage, 2001, Scheduling Papers (New Scheduling, 18/09/2001) (Scheduled Monument notification). SSA20687.

<06> Shropshire Council, 2008-Jun-8, SA0804_063 (1 photo) Flight: 08_SA_04 (Oblique aerial photograph). SSA25606.

<07> Shropshire Council, 2008-Jan-30, SA0802_232 to SA0802_233 (2 photos) Flight: 08_SA_02 (Oblique aerial photograph). SSA25400.

Sources

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