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Name:Moated Manorial Complex, Wragby
HER Number:MLI43631
Type of record:Monument

Summary

Medieval moated manorial complex, to the south of Wragby.

Grid Reference:TF 135 776
Map Sheet:TF17NW
Parish:WRAGBY, EAST LINDSEY, LINCOLNSHIRE

Full description

Two rectangular enclosures which are 40 yards by 50 yards wide. They are formed by a 15ft wide ditch and raised 6ft above the exterior. There are other hollow ways to the north. This is believed to be the former site of a medieval manor house. The site was visited in April 1969 by the Ordnance Survey field inspector. {1}{2}{3}{4}

The most northerly of the two courts is called 'Rout Yard'. These moats are supposed to have surrounded the second of the manor houses of Wragby. Of the two islands of this double moated site, only the southerly shows fragmentary building traces. The earthworks to the east are fishponds. There are further cropmark features extending across the field. {5}{6}{7}

In 1086 there were two manors at Wragby in the possession of Erenis of Buron and Waldin the Artificer. The surviving remains are thought to represent the manor held by Erenis of Buron which included responsibility for a church and priest and was the centre of a substantial estate. For much of the later medieval period it was held by the de Roos family and is thought to have been abandoned by the end of the 15th century. The former parish Church of All Saints, which stood adjacent to the moated site, is believed to have dated from the 12th century. The church was largely dismantled in the mid 19th century when the present All Saints' Church was built 300m to the north-west (see PRN xxxx). {8}

The site is that of one of the two early medieval manors of Wragby recorded in Domesday (almost certainly the larger). A measured survey of these earthworks was made in 1979 and showed the basic outlines of a defended major residence. {9}

An extension of one of the previously identified manorial earthworks was recorded in June 2005, during archaeological monitoring of the construction of an extension to 14 The Crescent. Although not impacted by the development, a broad, south-east to north-west aligned hollow could be seen to pass from the manorial centre, through the gardens of both 14 and 15 The Crescent. {10}{11}

An earth resistivity survey was conducted of the moated medieval complex in November 2009, as part of a reseach project by the Wragby Heritage Group. Several anomalies of potential archaeological significance were detected, along with a general spread of anomalies caused by disturbance across the site. It was thought possible that some of the anomalies may represent structural remains or rubble spreads of former buildings on the raised islands, although this interpretation remains tentative. {12}

Further remains likely associated with the moated complex were revealed in February 2011, during archaeological monitoring of new development at 15 The Crescent. The monitoring recorded the remains of a north-east to south-west ditch, running perpendicular to, and very likely joining the previously identified south-east to north-west aligned hollow. The features were thought to have functioned as former drainage courses or leats, carrying water into the moated complex. {13}{14}


<1> HBMC, AM 7, SAM 195 (Scheduling Record). SLI4067.

<2> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Card Index, TF 17 NW: 8 (Index). SLI2344.

<3> Lincolnshire County Council, Sites and Monuments Record Card Index, TF 17 NW: P (Index). SLI2881.

<4> 1995, HUNTINGS SURVEY, TF 17 NW: 191 (Aerial Photograph). SLI124.

<5> 1945-84, CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY COLLECTION, PF1-5 (1955) (Aerial Photograph). SLI173.

<6> 1945-84, CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY COLLECTION, JZ83 (1952) (Aerial Photograph). SLI173.

<7> 1945-84, CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY COLLECTION, AKN127 (1965) (Aerial Photograph). SLI173.

<8> English Heritage, 1999, Revised scheduling document 31624, MPP 23 (Scheduling Record). SLI5551.

<9> A.J. White (ed.), 1981, 'The Moated Site, Churches, and Hedgerow Survey at Wragby, 1979' in Lincolnshire History and Archaeology, vol.16, pp.19-23 (Article in Serial). SLI12800.

<10> Witham Archaeology, 2005, 14 The Crescent, Wragby, WA site code: WCRS05 (Report). SLI10709.

<11> Witham Archaeology, 2005, 14 The Crescent, Wragby, LCNCC 2005.129 (Archive). SLI10710.

<12> Grid Nine Geophysics, 2010, Medieval Manorial Complex at Wragby, - (Report). SLI16551.

<13> Neville Hall, 2011, 15 The Crescent, Wragby, NH site code: TCWR09 (Report). SLI13638.

<14> Neville Hall, 2011, 15, The Crescent, Wragby, LCNCC 2009.190 (Archive). SLI13639.

Monument Types

  • DITCH (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • FISHPOND (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • MANOR (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • MOAT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)

Associated Events

  • 15 The Crescent, Wragby
  • 14 The Crescent, Wragby
  • Site Visit to Moated Manorial Complex, Wragby
  • Earthwork Survey of Wragby Moated Site
  • Medieval Manorial Complex at Wragby

Protected Status

  • Conservation Area
  • Scheduled Monument
  • SHINE

Sources and further reading

<1>Scheduling Record: HBMC. AM 7. SAM 195.
<2>Index: Ordnance Survey. Ordnance Survey Card Index. TF 17 NW: 8.
<3>Index: Lincolnshire County Council. Sites and Monuments Record Card Index. TF 17 NW: P.
<4>Aerial Photograph: 1995. HUNTINGS SURVEY. TF 17 NW: 191.
<5>Aerial Photograph: 1945-84. CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY COLLECTION. PF1-5 (1955).
<6>Aerial Photograph: 1945-84. CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY COLLECTION. JZ83 (1952).
<7>Aerial Photograph: 1945-84. CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY COLLECTION. AKN127 (1965).
<8>Scheduling Record: English Heritage. 1999. Revised scheduling document 31624. MPP 23.
<9>Article in Serial: A.J. White (ed.). 1981. 'The Moated Site, Churches, and Hedgerow Survey at Wragby, 1979' in Lincolnshire History and Archaeology. vol.16, pp.19-23.
<10>Report: Witham Archaeology. 2005. 14 The Crescent, Wragby. WA site code: WCRS05.
<11>Archive: Witham Archaeology. 2005. 14 The Crescent, Wragby. LCNCC 2005.129.
<12>Report: Grid Nine Geophysics. 2010. Medieval Manorial Complex at Wragby. -.
<13>Report: Neville Hall. 2011. 15 The Crescent, Wragby. NH site code: TCWR09.
<14>Archive: Neville Hall. 2011. 15, The Crescent, Wragby. LCNCC 2009.190.

Related records

MLI40345Related to: Former Church of All Saints, Wragby (Monument)