Scheduled Monument: Moated Site at Upton Grange, Upton (1012123)

EXTRACT FROM ENGLISH HERITAGE'S RECORD OF SCHEDULED MONUMENTS MONUMENT: Moated site at Upton Grange, Upton PARISH: UPTON-BY-CHESTER DISTRICT: CHESTER COUNTY: CHESHIRE NATIONAL MONUMENT NO: 13415 NATIONAL GRID REFERENCE(S): SJ42396915 DESCRIPTION OF THE MONUMENT The moated site at Upton Grange comprises much of the island originally measuring c.115m x 105m together with the surrounding moat which has been partially infilled on its SW side. That part of the island overlain by modern domestic and farm buildings is not included. Moated sites are generally seen as the prestigious residences of the Lords of the manor. The moat marked the high status of the occupier, but also served to deter casual raiders and wild animals. Most moats were constructed between 1250 and 1350. The spring fed moat at Upton Grange remains waterfilled at its N and part of its S sides but is predominantly dry at its E side and is considerably scrub choked and tree lined throughout. Ridge and furrow run E-W across the SE part of the island and there are traces of what is thought to be an internal pond with inlet/outlet channels running E-W and N-S. Oral tradition claims the moat was once bridged by a timber structure on its E side but no visible evidence to support this now exists. All field boundaries, property boundaries and fences are excluded from the scheduling, however, the ground beneath these features is included. ASSESSMENT OF IMPORTANCE Around 6,000 moated sites are known in England. They consist of wide ditches, often or seasonally water-filled, partly or completely enclosing one or more islands of dry ground on which stood domestic or religious buildings. In some cases the islands were used for horticulture. The majority of moated sites served as prestigious aristocratic and seigneurial residences with the provision of a moat intended as a status symbol rather than a practical military defence. The peak period during which moated sites were built was between about 1250 and 1350 and by far the greatest concentration lies in central and eastern parts of England. However, moated sites were built throughout the medieval period, are widely scattered throughout England and exhibit a high level of diversity in their forms and sizes. They form a significant class of medieval monument and are important for the understanding of the distribution of wealth and status in the countryside. Many examples provide conditions favourable to the survival of organic remains. Much of the moated site at Upton Grange survives well. The moat is well defined for most of its length and is of high archaeological potential providing ideal conditions for the survival of organic remains in its waterlogged and silted stretches. The island will hold evidence of the internal layout of the site and traces of the bridge noted in oral tradition may also exist on the E side of the monument. SCHEDULING HISTORY This monument was originally included in the Schedule on 6th January 1976 as: COUNTY NUMBER: Cheshire 95 NAME: Moated site at Upton Grange The reference of this monument is now: NATIONAL MONUMENT NUMBER: 13415 NAME: Moated site at Upton Grange, Upton SCHEDULING REVISED ON 21st March 1991