More information : NY 555409 A Medieval moated site, near St Oswalds Church, Kirkoswald, consists of a trapezoid-shaped enclosure, c.250x175m defined by two parallel ditches, circa 15m apart, c.4m wide, 75cm deep and flat bottomed in shape. At the centre of the enclosure is a rectangular area circa 20x50m surrounded by a ditch, 5-8m wide, similar in shape and size to the outer ditches. "The sites relationship to nearby Kirkoswald Castle is uncertain. It is possible that the 1201 licence to fortify his manor, granted to Sir Hugh de Morville, applies to this site and not the castle, as generally assumed (The castle, rebuilt, has only 14th century masonry) 2(a) (1)
Visible on OS air photographs as a double ditched enclosure with low central mound. From its situation, being over looked by a high mound, surmounted by the bell tower, it is difficult to imagine this as a defensive site. (2)
NY 555409 Medieval moated site W of St Oswald's Church; scheduled. (3)
These earthworks are visible on historical and recent air photos and lidar imagery. The large outer enclosure is defined by a broad flat-topped bank c. 10m wide that is flanked internally and external by narrow ditches. This enclosure measures approximately 155x105m. On its north-western edge a similar flat-topped bank flanked by ditches extends towards the road that leads into Kirkoswald. It is possibly the form of the bank and the link that led the CUCAP cataloguers to describe this site as a ‘pleasaunce' (pleasance) as these might be interpreted as walk ways. The relative shallowness of the ditches as recorded by authority 1 above perhaps supports this rather than the moat interpretation.
Internally the enclosure contains at least three rectangular depressions, which may be the remains of fish ponds and/or flower beds. These are arranged around an inner enclosure that is defined by a broad ditch and measures 65x35m internally.
This feature is located on the flood plain of the River Eden on the south side of Kirkoswald. The outer eastern corner impinges on the old river terrace. The north-eastern edge of the outer enclosure neatly abuts the edge of St Oswalds churchyard (see UID 12425). It lies just less than 400m from the site of Kirkoswald Castle (see UID 12421). This site bears some comparison with the Pleasance in the Marsh at Keniworth (see UID 333868). (4-7)
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