Monument Type(s):

• MOAT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1540 AD)
• MOATED SITE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1540 AD)

Summary

The site of an unusual circular moated enclosure believed to have been, perhaps, the medieval manor site for Idsall/ Shifnal, but now probably destroyed by the housing estate built over it.

Related records: None recorded

Associated Finds

• FSA209 - CHISEL? (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1540 AD)
• FSA158 - TWEEZERS (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1540 AD)
• FSA159 - UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1540 AD)
• FSA160 - ROOF TILE (13th century to 14th century - 1200 AD to 1399 AD)
• FSA231 - SHERD (13th century to 14th century - 1200 AD to 1399 AD)
• FSA569 - SHERD (15th century to Early 20th century (pre-war) - 1400 AD to 1913 AD)

Associated Events

• ESA1217 - 1962 Excavations by Philip Barker at Shifnal moated site
• ESA1218 - 1975 field observation by the Ordnance Survey
• ESA1219 - 1980 field observation by Shropshire County Council

Description

Enclosing a circular area but with its outer banks very irregular, is a moat with a varying width from 50ft to 90ft. It is however greatly worn at the south where a narrow channel conveys water from the mill stream flowing on the east and south <1a>
Excavation in advance of housing development. Trial trenches revealed foundations of house on the east side. Scattered post holes of timber buildings were found, and bases of post holes on the W and NW sides showed that there had been a timber palisade. Pottery was dated to the first part of the C13. Possible site of the Manor House of Idsall/ Shifnall, founded no earlier than 1200 and deserted in the 14th century <1b>

Now covered by a housing estate. OS FI 1975 <1>

The moat still had a moat within it in 1879. The moat was then open on three sides and with entrance on the north. (but does this refer to manor to south?) <2>

Excavations carried out in 1962. The excavation of this sub-circular moated site showed that it had contained in its eastern quadrant a substantial building with foundations of mortared sandstone rubble. Elsewhere within the enclosure there had been timber building and the remains of the rampart on the north-western corner contained evidence of a timber palisade. There were no finds datable before c.1200 and occupation appears to have ceased in the 14th century. Metal finds included a pair of decorated tweezers, perhaps for toilet use. The cooking pots were associated with ridge tiles and hooked crests. <3>

Of the former circular moated site nothing now remains. M Watson FI 1980 <4>

CMHTS Record Sheet. <6>

CMHTS Report <7>

Correspondence with English Heritage [<9>] shows site has been descheduled, though denotification details not available. Date in scheduling revoked field is date of English Heritage response, not date of descheduling. <10>

<00> Shropshire County Council SMR, Site and Monuments Record (SMR) cards, SMR Card for PRN SA 01070 (Card index). SSA20722.

<01a> Victoria County History, 1908, Victoria County History 1, p404 plan (Volume). SSA178.

<01b> Barker, P A, 1962, Excavations at Shifnal, Easter 1962, p4. (Article in serial). SSA23269.

<01> Ordnance Survey, 1975, Ordnance Survey Record Card SJ70NW3 (Card index). SSA4004.

<02> Randall J, 1879, Shifnal and its Surroundings (Monograph). SSA4003.

<03> Barker Philip A, 1961/ 1964, Excavation of a Moated Site at Shifnal, Shropshire, 1962 (Article in serial). SSA2926.

<04> Watson Michael D, 1980-Oct, Site Visit Form, Oct 1980 (Field recording form). SSA4006.

<05> English Heritage, Map of Scheduled area (Scheduled Monument notification). SSA4005.

<06> Buteux Victoria, 1993/ 1996, CMHTS SMR Records Shropshire: Quatford to Shifnal, Shifnal 1070 (Record form). SSA19972.

<07> Buteux Victoria et al, 1996, Archaeological Assessment of Shifnal, Shropshire (CMHTS) (Historic landscape survey report). SSA12082.

<08> Shropshire County Council, 1982, Consultation Response, 1982 (Planning archive). SSA20211.

<09> Shropshire County Council & English Heritage, 2004-Mar/May, Correspondence between Shropshire County Council and English Heritage (Correspondence). SSA22170.

<10> Gathercole E Clare, 1999/ 2002, Comments by SMR compiler in SMR database, 16/02/2005 (SMR comment). SSA20725.

Sources

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