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| Name: | Middle Wood, Waldron : Med moated site |
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| HER Ref: | MES4306 |
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| Type of record: | Monument |
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Designations
- Scheduled Monument: MEDIEVAL RINGWORK IN MIDDLE WOOD
Summary
A medieval moated site, formerly interpreted as medieval ringwork possibly Herringdales. Includes the site of a possible Medieval Chapel and farmhouse.
Monument Types
- CHAPEL (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
- FARMHOUSE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
- MOAT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
- RINGWORK (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
Description
(TQ 5446 1920) Moat (GT) [1]
Regular circular homestead moat in Middle Wood. [2]
A nearly circular water-filled homestead moat, 65.0m in overall diameter is situated in a low-lying part of Middle Wood. The ditch is 10.0m in width and up to 2.5m in depth and was supplied with water via a channel cut to it from the NE. There is an outer bank, except for a short stretch on the NW, 5.0m in width and up to 0.7m in height, and there are traces of an inner bank on the W and SE sidesof the interior, which is up to 5.0m in width and 0.5m in height. There are no traces of the original access to the island, which is flat and level with the outside ground. Moat in good condition. Published 1:2500 survey revised. [3]
A medieval ringwork formerly interpreted as a medieval moated site. It consists of a deep circular ditch with inner and outer banks, with an entrance on the NNE side. The defensive nature of the site is evident from the steepness of slopes and the ditch-depth. The ditch was not intended to be a water-filled moat as no provision for a water supply seems to have been made. There is oral tradition for the former presence of a chapel within the ringwork. [4]
In discussing late-medieval buildings in Sussex, Brandon [1974, 136] refers to ‘one of the finest Sussex moated sites’ as being the ‘low-lying site of Herringdales manor and its chapel in the 13th century, before a new manor house was erected on a higher site nearby’. On the grounds of place-name evidence and family associations it is very likely that the moated site Brandon is referring to was Sibyl de Icklesham’s court of Waldron. The prior and convent of Lewes (i.e. St Pancras Priory) granted to Sibyl in 1233 the right to a chapel in her court. [SRS 38: 132-3 – a very detailed document describing, inter alia, the relationship of the chapel with the parish church [7].
A nearly circular water-filled homestead moat is situated in a low-lying part of Middle Wood. It is supplied with water via a channel cut into it from the north-east. There is an out bank (except for a short stretch on the north-west) and traces of an inner bank on the west and south-east sides of the interior. There are no signs of the original access to the island, which is flat and level with the outside ground. [8]
Sources
| <1> | Article in serial: Article in serial. Ordnance Survey 6" 1932. |
| <2> | Correspondence: 1952. Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigators Comment. R1 JEC 11-NOV-66. |
| <2> | Article in serial: Article in serial. The Victoria History of the County of Sussex 1 1905 p 478. |
| <3> | Correspondence: 1952. Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigators Comment. First OS Archaeology Field Investigator ASP 28/03/1972. |
| <5> | Article in serial: Article in serial. English Heritage Schedule Entry 23/05/1991. |
| <6> | Article in serial: Article in serial. English Heritage Schedule Entry 30/01/1996. |
| <7> | Verbal communication: Pers. Comm. (verbal). J Bleach ed chapels. |
| <8> | Report: Dr. A. G. Woodcock. 1980. East Sussex - Its Archaeological Heritage: Medieval Moated Sites. (38) Waldron. |
Associated Events
- Field observation on TQ 51 NW 1
- Medieval Moated Sites, East Sussex : Archaeological Survey
Associated Monuments - none recorded
Associated Finds - none recorded
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