Monument Type(s):

• MOAT (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1901 AD)
• MOATED SITE (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1901 AD)
• GATEHOUSE (16th century to Post Medieval - 1500 AD to 1901 AD)
• BRIDGE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1901 AD)

Summary

A late 16th century gatehouse, with moated site and bridge, which are protected by Grade II Listing.

Related records

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESA716 - 1965 field observation by the Ordnance Survey
• ESA717 - 1975 field observation by the Ordnance Survey
• ESA718 - 1981 field observation by Shropshire County Council

Description

Circa late C16 timber-framed gatehouse altered in C18. Two-storeys and attic. Ground storey red brick, first storey timber-framed with brick infill. Plain tile roof with gabled ends. Segmental vaulted carriageway at centre with keystones and impost. Central gabled dormers with Y-tracery gothic window with clock face and oval window below. Cupola over the centre. Two brick ridge chimney stack with stone tablets dated 1588 and 1766. Adjoining bridge over moat immediately north-east; stone with 2 small arched spans. There is only a short section of moat. <2>

Only one arm of the moat, the NE, now survives, and forms an ornamental frontage to the Hall (PRN 13016), being a waterfilled duckpond. It is brick lined and appears to have a cobbled base. The rest of the moat has been built over and destroyed by the C18 Hall. The most important feature of the site is the gatehouse dated 1588 whose base may contain foundations of a precursor. M Watson FI 1981 <3>

The medieval manor house of Orleton stood within a square moat; the moat remained complete in 1728. The surviving NE arm of the moat is crossed by a possibly medieval stone bridge of two arches, which may be contemporary with the stone foundations of the adjoining gatehouse. <4>

Evaluated for MPP in 1990-1, Low score as one of 133 Moated sites. <5>

The original form of the Gatehouse was that of a timber-framed structure, jettied on all four sides. As such it is likely to pre-date the 1588 date thought to relate to a rebuilding at that time. The date of 1766 on one of the chimneystacks could indicate a remodelling in the C18 which included the application of stencilled decoration in an upper room. It is in good condition and is a particularly fine example, executed in olive green paint on a white plastered background. Painting described and illustrated. <6>

<00> Shropshire County Council SMR, Site and Monuments Record (SMR) cards, SMR Card for PRN SA 00715 (Card index). SSA20722.

<01a> Forrest H E, 1921/ 1923, Text, p306-307 (TEXT). SSA2789.

<01> Ordnance Survey, 1976, Ordnance Survey Record Card SJ61SW6 (Card index). SSA2790.

<02> Department of the Environment (DoE), 1983-Apr-08, 19th List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, p230 (List of Buildings). SSA662.

<03> Watson Michael D, 1981-Feb-24, Site Visit Form, 24/02/1981 (Field recording form). SSA2791.

<04> Baugh G C (ed), 1985, Victoria County History Volume XI: Telford, p312 (Volume). SSA2707.

<05> Horton Wendy B, 1990/ 1991, MPP Evaluation File (TEXT). SSA20084.

<06> Moran Madge, 2003, Vernacular Buildings of Shropshire, pp.343, 520 (Monograph). SSA22146.

Sources

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