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)
• FORTIFIED HOUSE (17th century to Unknown - 1644 AD)

Summary

A moated site and associated fishpond of probable medieval origin, which have been partially excavated (producing material of 17th century date) and severely damaged by ploughing.

Related records: None recorded

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESA1507 - 1964 watching brief
• ESA1508 - 1975 field observation by the Ordnance Survey
• ESA1509 - 1977 field observation by Shropshire County Council
• ESA1510 - 1981 field observation by Shropshire County Council
• ESA5770 - 1998 site visit by English Heritage MPP Fieldworker

Description

200 yards SE of Stoke upon Tern manor house is a moated space, still traceable, which was the site of an earlier manor house or castle. It is square and measures 250 feet each way. The moat on the NW, NE and SW is in a line with, and immediately outside, the present fence, but evidently much reduced by time and cultivation. The NW side is nearly obliterated, that, and the site itself being on ploughed land.
Large blocks of red sandstone and conglomerate have been turned up and at some depth wattles found. Fragments of limestone roofing shingles are scattered about the surface, and coins are said to have been found.
A small fishpond appears to have existed at the NE angle of the moat.
Mention of stone, brick, wood and timber on the site, in a conveyance of 1668, suggests that considerable ruins existed at that time. <1b>

(In 1890s) NW side nearly obliterated, site under plough. Large blocks of red sandstone and conglomerate have been turned up and at some depth wattles found. Fragments of limestone roofing shingles scattered on the surface, and coins are said to have been found <1b>
The seat of Sir J Corbett in 1629 and garrisoned for Parliament in 1644 <1c>
A small fishpond appears to have existed at the NE angle of the moat. mention of brick, stone, wood and timber on the site in a conveyance of 1668 suggests that considerable ruins existed at that time. Drainage trench cut NW/SE. Showed that the enclosure had been raised two feet and enlarged towards the NE. The buried ditch of the original site contained a great deal of preserved organic material in its lower layers. There were remains of a drystone wall of sandstone blocks resting on the original ground surface near the south end of the trench. No dateable finds <1d>

SJ 64632765: The moat is represented on the NE and SE sites by a nettle-infested drainage ditch 3.0 to 4.0m wide and 1.0m deep along the centre. There are traces of the inner scarp of the SW arm of the moat across an arable field. Contiguous with the NW side is a now dry fishpond, 20.0m in width and extending northwards from the line of the moat for 40.0m. It averages 1.2m in depth. Surveyed at 1:2500 at SJ64602771. Nothing significant was noted in the moated area. <1e>

Sited on flat, level lying ground. Rectangular moated site in poor condition due to ploughing. The NE and SE arms are represented by an irregular inner scarp surmounted by a hedge and dropping to a wet drainage ditch c 4m wide and 1.5m deep. On the NW the ditch is not present, only the inner scarp c 1m in height. The SW arm which is under plough can still be traced as a wide shallow depression which shows as a clear black soil mark. The moat island, which is level, measures c80m x 55m and its ploughed surface is covered by a scatter of ? C17 bricks-which may relate to the house that stood here in 1644. No other finds picked up. Adjoining the NW side of the moat is a now dry and ploughed probable fishpond. It is 20m wide and extends northwards from the line of the moat for 40m, it averages c1m in depth though the hedged NE side is up to 1.7m in height. M Watson FI 1981 <3>

Evaluated for MPP in 1990-1: Low score as one of 52 Fishponds; Medium score as one of 133 Moated sites <4>

This rectangular moated site and the attached fishpond lie within an arable field. They have both been severely damaged by ploughing. A watching brief on the moated site, carried out in 1964, found structural and other artefactual remains dating to the 17th century. A considerable amount of material from the post medieval period litters the plough soil. About ten years ago [ie 1989?] a local amateur group examined a portion of the northern moat arm. A sandstone block revetment wall was found supported on timber piles. There is no published record of this discovery, but there was a site visit by the County Council's head of archaeology. The excavation trench has not been back filled and much of the exposed sandstone revetment remains in situ. <5>

Photographed during aerial survey in 2013. <6>

Sources

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