Monument Type(s):

• FISHPOND (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1540 AD)
• MANOR HOUSE (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 manor site, believed to have been the centre of the manor of Rossall, together with associated fishponds.

Related records

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESA1340 - 1961 field observation by the Ordnance Survey
• ESA1341 - 1981 field observation by Shropshire County Council

Description

A dry moat 4-7 ft. deep on three sides, with an inner bank nearly perfect on the north and south, and almost gone on the east. The bank of the river Severn, sloping 56 ft. down to the water at this point, forms the west side. Parallel to the eastern side are a shallow ditch and two fishponds. <1a>
A survey of 1587 expressly states the site to be the manor house <1b>

Major Stanford said that in 1959 the moat was cleaned out and partly recut with a bulldozer. The central area was also cleared of vegetation, and foundations of a sandstone curtain wall were revealed on all sides. Material was added to the sides of the mound at the South-East corner.
He also said that the remains of the fish-ponds to the East of the moat were formerly one horse-shoe shaped pond, connected to the South-East corner of the moat. [Info: Major Stanford, The Isle, Potchgreen, Shrewsbury,owner.]
The features to the East of the moat resemble ornamental ponds rather than fish ponds. <1c>

A homestead moat, measuring internally, 70.0m east-west, by 60.0m transversely, the arms of the moat being 10.0 to 14.0m in width, and 1.6m in depth. The north and south arms open onto the high east bank of the R Severn.
An inner bank on the north side of the island is 47.0m long, 10.0m wide, and 0.9m high internally. In the north west corner is a collection of blocks of ashlar some with mouldings, and of rough building stone, collected from the interior in 1959 (4). A causeway across the east arm is modern. The mound in the south-east corner is probably a modern feature. Of the ponds, only that on the south remains, as an ornamental duckpond. <1d>

Rectangular moated site sited on level ground at the edge of a steep natural scarp of the R Severn...The moat has three sides and never had a fourth due to the steep river bank serving as sufficient protection for its W side. The N, S and E arms average c1.5m deep..their width is irregular and varies from 6m at the S side up to 13m on the N side, though this irregularity may be a result of the dredging and re-cutting of the moat in 1959. There are two causeway crossings, one at the W end of the N arm and one in the middle of the E arm, both may well be modern. Along the N edge of the island there is a well preserved inner bank standing c1m high. This formerly extended around the E and S arms, though all trace of it here has gone except for a short length at the W end of the S arm. During the 1959 renovation the owner reported finding the foundations of a stone curtain wall on all four sides. The large island which covers c 1 acre measures c 75m x c58m and has no traces of any building foundations. At the SE corner is a mound 1.8m high...this is probably a modern ornamental garden feature. Adjacent to this and abutting onto the S edge of the island is a triangular shaped platform c 0.5m high which could be the foundations of a former structure built onto the curtain wall, or it could be another .. garden feature. A pile of worked building stones at the NW corner of the island may be from a former building on the site or from the curtain wall located in 1959. To the SE side of the moat are the remains of three fishponds, two fragmentary and one complete.... A medieval chapel [PRN 01364] formerly stood just outside the SW corner of the moat. M Watson FI 1981 <2>

Evaluated for MPP in 1990-1: Medium score as one of 133 Moated sites; Medium score as one of 52 Fishponds <3>

Scheduled in 2000. Scheduling description: ->

-> The monument includes the earthwork and buried remains of a medieval moated site, a prospect mound and fishponds to the south east of Isle Farm. The moated site is considered to be the manorial centre of Rossall, which was held by Vivian de Rossall (Rosshall) in the early 13th century. The manor was held by the Rossalls until the early 15th century, when it passed to the Englefield family. A survey of the manor by John Lovell for Francis Englefield in 1587 records that the moated manor site was used as an orchard by this date and that no buildings remained standing. This survey also notes the presence of a former chapel in Chapel Field to the south of the moated site. Documentary sources list the incumbents from the 13th century until the 15th century. It has been alleged that the chapel was burnt down during the Reformation. Its position is approximately marked on the earliest large scale Ordnance Survey map of 1881 as being adjacent to the south west corner of the moated site. There are no visible indications of this building since the area has been heavily disturbed by tree planting. The chapel site is not therefore included in the scheduling as its exact location and form are not known. ->

-> The moated site was built on western side of the neck of a large meander of the River Severn. It is situated on level ground next to the very steep slope cut by the river. The rectangular moated island, which measures approximately 60m north-south and 70m east-west, is defined on its western side by the steep slope and on the other sides by a moat, now dry, consisting of three arms between 9m and 15m wide. Water within the moat would have been held by dams constructed at the western ends of the north and south arms. Of these two dams the one crossing the northern arm is still visible as an earthwork. Material excavated from the moat has been used to raise the surface of the island by about 0.5m above the level of the surrounding ground. Material from the moat has also been deposited along the inner edge of the northern moat arm creating a bank about 10m wide and up to 1m high. Access onto the island was by means of a causeway, 3m wide, which crosses the eastern arm. In 1959 the moat was partially recut and the remains of a curtain or retaining wall was found. Dressed sandstone blocks, some of which are moulded, found at this time have been deposited next to the western end of the internal bank. ->

-> In the south eastern corner of the moated island there is a circular earthen mound, 1.5m high. It is approximately 12m in diameter at its base and has a flat top, 6m across. Stone steps have been inserted into the southern part of the mound. It is shown on an early 18th century estate map and is considered to be a prospect mound on which a summerhouse was built. This feature is probably contemporary with the nearby house known as The Isle, a late 17th century structure that was substantially altered in the mid-18th century. ->

-> To the east of the moated site are the remains of three fishponds. Two are long and narrow and are at right angles to one another. The third is subrectangular and lies opposite the other two. On the early 18th century estate map all three are shown as water-filled. The elongated pond to the south still contains water, the others have been drained and are largely infilled. The size and relationship of these ponds suggest that they were used for the breeding and storing of fish to provide a sustainable supply of food. The fishponds are included in the scheduling in order to preserve the relationship between them and the moated site. ->

-> All fences, associated gates and stiles, plus the timber bridge across the western end of the southern moat arm are excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath these features is included. <4>

Sources

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