Monument Type(s):

• FISHPOND (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1901 AD)
• HOLLOW WAY (Medieval - 1066 AD? to 1540 AD?)
• MILL POND (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1901 AD)
• MOAT (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1901 AD)
• MOATED SITE (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1901 AD)
• TANNING PIT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1901 AD)

Summary

Scheduled Monument: The Cheneys' medieval moated manor site for Longville, dating from at least the 14th century (perhaps earlier), this site contains earthwork remains of the moat, ponds and a large dam, as well as several fine 14th to 17th century farm buildings which are still in use [PRN21519].

Related records

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESA4425 - 1973 field observation by the Ordnance Survey
• ESA4426 - 1981 field observation by Shropshire County Council
• ESA7350 - 2008 Photographic recording and archaeological observation at Castle Farm Moat Wall, Cheney Longville by Border Archaeology
• ESA4785 - 1992-2000 Summary Condition Survey of SAMs in the Shropshire Hills Environmentally Sensitive Area by English Heritage

Description

The castle (PRN 21519) stands within a moat, half of which is now destroyed, and outside this are indications of banks and an outer moat, with a fish-pond on the SE. On the NE an embanked lake formed the chief defence, while the south was strengthened by a rampart and ditch. The eastern curve of the latter terminated in a pond, and the western end probably extended to join the lake. <1b>

The moat, now marshy or dry, remains of the S & E sides. A rectangular fishpond lies parallel to the east arm of the moat and to the east of it. N of the house, at a lower level, is the site of a pond, 150m by 100m, in area contained by a large bay, 100.0m in length, 10.0m in width and up to 2.5m in height. The purpose of this pond was not ascertained, but a rock-cut spillway, now accommodating a small stream, leads away downhill, eastwards, from the NE corner which suggests it was a millpond. To the S and E of the house is an outwork, comprising a ditch, 6.0m wide and 0.5 to 1.5m deep, with remains of an inner bank, 4.0m wide and up to 0.5m in height, which extends from the modern road W of the house to the outskirts of the village to the NE, except where ploughed out in recent times. <1c>

Evaluated for MPP in 1990-1: Medium score as one of 133 Moated sites; Medium score as one of 52 Fishponds. <7>

Scheduled in 1997. Scheduled monument description: ->

-> The monument is situated at Castle Farm, to the north west of Cheney Longville village and includes the earthwork and buried remains of a moated site, parts of the associated water management features and a number of post-medieval tanning pits. Approximately 150m north east of the moated site is Cheney Longville ringwork castle which is the subject of a separate scheduling. The manor of Longville was owned by the Cheney family from the early 14th century and in 1395 Richard II granted Roger Cheney a licence to crenellate his house there. The property passed to the Plowdens in the 17th century, and onto the Beddoes family during the 18th century. The north western and north eastern moat ditches have been largely infilled, but they will survive as buried features, and the remains of an earthen bank at the eastern corner of the moated site indicates that the north eastern moat arm was originally bounded by a retaining bank which continues along the south eastern side of the moat. A narrow bank or spur divides the south eastern moat arm into two parts; here therefore, it takes the form of two parallel channels which are believed to have been associated with fish breeding. Access to the moated island is by means of a stone bridge across the now infilled north western moat ditch. The moated island is occupied by a group of stone buildings constructed on a courtyard plan believed to be medieval in origin .[PRN21519-more on the buildings].->

-> Immediately to the north of the moated site is a large retaining bank, up to 2.5m high, which has been constructed across a stream channel (now channelled below the ground surface). The pond formed behind this dam is now dry and would have originally extended over a large area to the north and north west of the moated site. Together with the other water management features surrounding the moated platform it would have served to enhance the visual impact, and thus the status, of the buildings which occupied the platform. From the 18th century onwards the land immediately to the SW of the moated island was used for tanning operations .. [more on associated remains of tanning]. ->

-> The moated site at Castle Farm, Cheney Longville, survives well in the form of substantial earthworks and buried deposits and is unusual in being associated with a series of substantial standing buildings of medieval origin. The surviving system of water-management features is a good example of a medieval phenomenon which gives an insight into contemporary ideas of defence and status, as well as economy .. As a result of the survival of historical documents relating to both the medieval manor house and the post medieval tanning activity the site is quite well understood. <8>

The moat and associated features were photographed during aerial photographic survey in 2008. <9>

A rectified photographic survey was undertaken prior to restoration work being carried out on the NE section of the Moat Wall at Castle Farm, Cheney Longville. Four sections of wall facing located to the SE of the central gateway and a 5m long section immediately NW of the gateway were removed under archaeological observation. At least three distinct phases of construction were identified, the earliest represented by the drystone rubble core of the Moat Wall behind which was a large deposit of made-up soil probably relating to post-medieval landscaping of the site. Several sherds of early to mid 19th century pottery were recovered from the rubble core indicating that certain sections of the Moat Wall, although not necessarily its entire length, were either newly built or reconstructed between c.1800-1850. The masonry facing of the wall on either side of the gateway also exhibited marked differences in construction method and materials used, suggesting that they represent two distinct phases of building activity, again probably of late post-medieval (19th century) date. <10>

Visited during a condition survey by the English Heritage Field Monument Warden, in 2000. Condition recorded as poor to fair, with much of the moat heavily overgrown. <11>

Listed by Cathcart King. <12>

Traces of the outer moat, fishponds and other defensive banks are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs, although the inner moat is obscured by trees. A hollow way or footpath, visible as an earthwork, approaches the site from the south. The features have been mapped by RCHME's Marches Uplands Mapping Project. <13><13a><4><5>

Sources

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