Monument Type(s):

• MOAT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1540 AD)

Summary

There is some evidence to suggest a defended perimeter around the site of Aston Eyre Hall (PRN 00601) although it is not clear if it was definitely a moated island. This subrectangular defended area encloses an area of 105m E-W by 75m N-S.

Related records

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESA4774 - 2002 Evaluation prior to proposed barn conversion at Aston Eyre Hall by Castlering Archaeology
• ESA4960 - 1995 Evaluation of Aston Eyre Old Hall in advance of building conversion by UBAS
• ESA6107 - 1997 Geophysical survey at Aston Eyre Hall by GSB Prospection for Time Team
• ESA6268 - 2008 Architectural and archaeological analysis at Aston Eyre Hall by Richard Morriss
• ESA7253 - 1997 Trial trenching, architectural assessment and topographic survey at Aston Eyre Hall by Time Team

Description

Aston Eyre moated site lies on the north side of the small church of Aston Eyre. The moat is subrectangular and encloses an area of 105m E-W by 75m N-S. The southern side of the moat lies adjacent to the north boundary of the churchyard and is marked by a scarp 1.5m high. The western arm remains visible as a broad, partly water-filled ditch, 4m wide. The southern [sic, ?= northern] arm is less visible, but a rock cut feature probably represents its inner edge. A post medieval barn has been built over this edge, preserving the alignment and position. The eastern arm has been completely filled in with a drive and a garden, but the stone gatehouse survives intact. The Old Hall itself sits asymmetrically within the moated area, which may suggest that the moat and hall were not contemporary. There is an exceptionally large space between the gatehouse and the hall, which must have been filled with courtyards and possibly buildings. Forrest [<2>] noted that on the north side stone foundations can still be traced. ->

-> Aston Eyre is recorded in the Domesday Survey. It was occupied by the Fitz Ayer family (descendants of the Domesday tenant) until the early 14th century, when it passed to the Charltons, one of the most important Shropshire families of their day. The construction of the first stone hall may date to this time, presumably replacing an earlier house set within the moat. In the mid 15th century the Cressetts acquired the manor by marriage and in the mid 16th century it passed by marriage to the Actons of Aldenham, who held it until the early 20th century [more details of the manor's history are given in this report]. ->

-> The excavators concluded that it is likely that much of the medieval floor levels within the hall and cross wing and external courtyard levels have been worn away or were dug out in the 18th century. But it was strongly suspected that important archaeological deposits still survive in the area between the gatehouse and the hall. <1>

Geophysical survey of land around Aston Eyre Hall Farm in June 1997 as part of a wider archaeological investigation being undertaken as part of the Time Team series for Channel Four television. The nature of the ground conditions during the survey meant that the geophysical results contributed little to the overall archaeological works. The survey failed to find any clear evidence of a moat ditch or the original road to the gatehouse although, it was later considered by the Time Team that the site may not have had a moat. <3>

There is some evidence to suggest a defended perimeter around the site of Aston Eyre Hall (PRN 00601) although it is less easy to assess if this was definitely a moated island site. <4>

Correspondance related to the Time Team programme, filmed in June 1997 includes a sketch plan created as a composite from resources consulted as part of the background to the programme (seemingly by Mark Horton and Tim Taylor). This suggests that the circuit of moat to the south of the hall has been filled in, but an oval depression on the west side represents the earthwork remains of the moat's western circuit. The circuit of the moat is partially obscured by post-medieval farm buildings to the north and east. Apparently Stuart (given as Stewart) Ainsworth recorded some features associated with medieval water supply in the vicinity of the hall, but no further information is available. <5>

Please note: no formal report has been compiled for the Time Team excavations at this site to date and therefore only limited details are available on the investigations. <6>

Extent of moat discussed in a report on the conversion of a late medieval/early post-medieval barn to the SE of Aston Eyre Farmhouse. Horton (<1>) referred to this building as a ‘Post-medieval’ barn and also stated that it was partly built over the edge of the infilled moat which curved east and north from the churchyard wall. The Tithe and 1883 map suggest the boundary that ran along the west side of the barn has potential as the outer extremity of a moat. Should this be the case, the eastern arm would have been infilled and now occupied by the drive that leads into the site, past the barn and onto the present house. A watching brief undertaken during the conversion works, in 2019-2020 record no evidence of a moat or former boundary. <7>

Sources

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