If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.

Monument Types

• MOAT (Medieval - 1067 AD? to 1539 AD?)

Summary

Remains of a filled in elaborate complex of water filled features and ditches. Originally the site had three concentric moats, though these are now largely filled in. It might have been garden features or a park lodge.

Additional Information

Rather battered remains, largely filled in, of an elaborate complex of water-filled features. It appears in detail on some editions of the OS and on an estate map of Kirkby Mallory in the Record Office. (RFH 03/10/86)

RP made a site visit in 25/06/97 in connection with planning application 97/00353/4. A photographic survey of the condition of the monument was undertaken: report on file with SMR. Further infilling of the ditches occurred between 1981 and 1997, leaving only two sections of the middle ditch (moat) wet, though other sections of ditch are visible as shallow depressions in the pasture. (RJP 11/10/99)

<1> Hartley R F, 2008, Medieval Earthworks of South-West Leicestershire (Hinckley & Bosworth), p32 (Bibliographic reference). SLE1014.

"The OS 1st edition 1:2500 map of 1885 shows this as a large and complex moated site with three concentric moats, one outside the other. It was used as a rubbish tip in the 1980s and largely filled in by 1980, so it is difficult now to say much about its original function. There is a possibility it could be a C15th garden feature. It was located in an isolated part of the parish and might perhaps have been a park lodge."

<2> Page, William (ed), 1907, The Victoria County History of the County of Leicester, Volume 1, p268-9 (Bibliographic reference). SLE1156.

Kirkby Moats are almost square in plan, each side measuring about 500ft in length. The centre plateau, 90ft square, is surrounded by three ditches and a triple vallum. The innermost moat is 11ft deep and over 45ft wide; this is surrounded by a vallum 17ft in height: the middle moat, not so wide as the inner one, is filled up on the eastern side for length of 30ft, thereby creating a rectangular platform between the two earthen walls. Another platform is found on the same side near the NE angle, and this is pierced by a short arm of the inner moat which penetrates its eastward to the confines of the outer moat, providing an elongated pit. An entrance path curves across the two outer aggers at the NE angle of the works. Indications of two other entrances are at the SE angle, and in the north side towards the NW angle.

<3> 1954, Transactions of the Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society, Volume 30, Vol 30 (1954), p123 (Journal). SLE5966.

"The moats have been partly levelled" (a sketch plan and letter from D J Bott is in Leicester Museum).

<4> 2016, National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE) accessioning (Website). SLE4981.

SUMMARY: "Kirkby Moats in Peckleton, Leicestershire, are earthworks that have now almost been obliterated; those remaining have been considerably weakened and altered. It is presumed they originally constituted a double moated enclosure with adjacent fishponds.A source dating to 1907 describes them as almost square in plan, with each side measuring about 500ft in length. The centre plateau, 90ft square, was surrounded by three ditches and a triple vallum, or wall. The innermost moat was 11ft deep and over 45ft wide and surrounded by a vallum 17ft in height. The middle moat, not as wide as the inner one, was filled up on the eastern side for length of 30ft, thereby creating a rectangular platform between the two earthen walls. Another platform was found on the same side near the north east angle, and was pierced by a short arm of the inner moat which penetrated eastward to the confines of the outer moat, providing an elongated pit. An entrance path curved across the two outer aggers, or embankments, at the north east angle of the works. Indications of two other entrances were at the south east angle, and in the north side towards the north west angle."
URL: 'https://nrhe-to-her.esdm.co.uk/NRHE/RecordDetail.aspx?pageid=45&he_uid=314968', accessioned 02/09/2024.

<5> Ordnance Survey 1:10,560 (6") historic mapping, 1914-1938 (Map). SLE7243.

(Centred SK45420183) Kirkby Moats (TI) Earthworks (TI)

<6> Field Investigators Comments, F1 JB 22-JUN-72 (Website). SLE3488.

The earthworks at this site have almost been obliterated; those remaining have been considerably weakened and altered. See revised 25" plan. The present owner, Mr Wright, says that the previous owner had a grant from the Ministry of Agriculture to level the site, he also stated that these moats were mentioned in Domesday. This was presumably, originally a double moated enclosure with adjacent fish ponds.

<7> Cathcart King, DJ, 1982, Castellarium Anglicanum: an index and bibliography of the castles in England, Wales and the Islands. Vol I: Anglesey to Montgomery, p256 (Bibliographic reference). SLE4995.

Listed as a possible strong house by Cathcart King.

Sources

Associated Finds

None recorded

Designations

• SHINE: Kirkby Moats: earthworks of a medieval/post-medieval moated site

Associated Images

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