| Summary : Medieval moated manor, first documented in 1322. Total excavation of the site was carried out in advance of destruction by the Gale Common Ash Disposal Facility. Occupation remains of 12th-16th century date were found together with the remains of the overlying 18th-19th century model farm. Due to the high water table there was exceptional preservation of organic remains, including the remains of a sequence of timber bridges. A medieval garden and finds indicative of the high status of the site were also discovered. The moat was found to be an integral part of the, partly pre-existing, medieval land drainage system. A pond in an annexe to the north, originally thought to be a fishpond, is now considered to be a clay pit for brickmaking. The moat, pond and ditches are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs. |
More information : [SE 536 205] Moat [GT]. (1)
Published Survey (25" 1963) correct. A water filled homestead moat, 1.0m. in depth, surrounding a 19th century farm and outbuildings. The remains of the moat are well defined, and in reasonable condition. (2)
Condition unchanged apart from minor amendments; published survey (25") revised. (3)
Woodhall "SE 536206, banked enclosure to N. contains fish-ponds. Manor held in 1322 by John de Woodhall. Now buried below power station sludge". (4)
The Wood Hall Moated Manor Project, run by NYCC and sponsored by National Power, has been undertaking total excavation of the site since 1988, in advance of its destruction by the Gale Common Ash Disposal Facility. Excavation has uncovered occupation remains of 12th-16th century date as well as the overlying 18th-19th century model farm. The high water table has resulted in exceptional preservation of organic remains, including parts of successive bridges, timbers from the latest two (B and C) yielding felling dates of 1493/4 and 1560/1 by dendrochronology. The 1493 date is associated with the building of an elaborate stone gatehouse which began to subside in c 1620 and was demolished 1680-1700. Remains of a medieval garden and finds indicative of the high status of the site have been discovered. Documentary evidence reveals the changing ownership of the site from the 14th to the 16th century. (5)
A felling date of 1457/8 was obtained for one of the timbers of
bridge A but bridge Z, the earliest so far found, could not be
dated. The moat was found to be an integral part of the, partly pre-existing, medieval land drainage system. Bedding trenches of
medieval and 16th century date were found and a large stake-lined pit of medieval date with well preserved wood and leather artefacts. Trial trenching in the E part of the moat island has revealed robbed out walls of what may be the manorial hall itself. (6)
The pond in the annexe to the N interpreted as fishponds by Authority 4 has been re-interpreted as a clay pit for brickmaking (7).
A medieval moat, clay pit and ditches are visible as earthworks on air photographs centred at SE 536 2059.
The moat, at SE 5361 2057, comprises an incomplete wide ditch and measures approximately 106m by 119m. On most photography this is masked by tree cover. To the north are a series of abutting ditches, probably part of a medieval drainage system. A clay pit is also visible at SE 53702067.
(8-9) |