| Summary : The site of a medieval moated house possibly dating from the early 13th century. It was surrounded by a moat, which is still largely water-filled, and there is an associated fishpond. The present Moat House dates to the 15th century house and it was much altered in the late 16th century. By the early 17th century it was being used as a farmhouse and in the 19th century it was converted into two farm cottages. In the late 20th century it was restored as a single dwelling.It was probably originally the house of Richard Clerk who was granted permission by the Lord of Longnor, between 1291 and 1298 to widen the moat. The present Moat House is a fine half-timbered house, possibly of 15th cent date, with earlier stone-work on the south side. This is thought to have been the work of Thomas Acton. The house originally consisted of an open hall, with service rooms to the north and probably other rooms, including a solar, to the south.Excavations carried out in 1958 by P A Barker revealed cobbling in the North West corner of the enclosure and a stone-built bank on the inner edge of the northern side of the moat. Structural timbers from the Moat House have been dated by dendrochronology which suggest that it was built around 1467. |
More information : SJ 49340024 Moat (NR) Moat House (TI) (1)
This moat still exists as shown on quarter sheet. (2)
Probably the site of the house of Richard Clerk, who was granted
permission by the Lord of Longnor, between 1291 and 1298, to
widen his moat by 12ft. The present Moat House is a fine half-
timbered house, possibly of 15th cent date with earlier stone-work
on the south side (3). Inside are the remains of the former open
roof of the hall (4). The moat is still largely water-filled (3)
with three entrances that on the east curving between an external
fish-pond and an inturned branch of the north side of the moat (5).
Excavations in 1958 by P A Barker revealed cobbling in the NW
corner of the enclosure and a stone-built bank on the inner
edge of the northern side of the moat. In primary silt on the
west side, beneath a 19th cent clay filling, was wood debris
almost certainly from the construction of a palisade or bridge,
and stratified above the silting were fragments of 13/14th
cent and later pottery (3). (3-5)
The present house dates from the later 14th cent. (6)
Moat House, the moat and fish-pond are as described. Published
survey (25") revised. See G.P. (7)
SJ 49400022. Fishpond (NR). (8)
Medieval moated house. (9)
Moat House, a late 14th century house with c. 1600 and 17th century additions. Grade II*. (10)
A moat and associated fishpond, surrounding Moat House. A documentary source suggests that the moated site was constructed in the early 13th century. Between 1291 and 1298, the tenants were given licence to widen the moat by 12 feet. Structural timbers from Moat House have been dendro-dated, and suggest that it was built around 1467. This is thought to have been the work of Thomas Acton. The house originally consisted of an open hall, with service rooms to the north and probably other rooms, including a solar, to the south. In 1370, Edward Acton was granted a licence for a private chapel at Longnor. It is also suggested that a detached kitchen stood west of the house; a licence for the demolition of such a building was granted in 1646. The house was much altered in the late 16th century and was being used as a farmhouse by the early 17th century. It was converted into two farm cottages in the 19th century and restored as a single dwelling in the late 20th century.
The moat island is measures 60 metres by 85 metres and the moat arms are between 8 and 12 metres wide. These retain water, except in the north-western section. The OS map of 1882 shows 3 causeways across the moat, but only that to the west survives today. The same map shows 2 buildings, a stone barn and a timber-framed structure, which have since been demolished. Earthworks and building debris on the island are believed to indicate the locations of these and other buildings. Archaeological investigations undertaken on the site in 1958 revealed a number of deposits (see above). Further archaeological work carried out in 1987 and 1988 around Moat House, indicated the survival of structural remains and associated deposits dating from the medieval period onwards. On the eastern side of the site is a water-filled fishpond measuring 30 metres wide and 80 metres long. It is thought to have been used to store fish rather than breeding them. Scheduled. (11)
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