Scheduled Monument: Moated Site and Fishpond S of Huntington Hall (1012080)

EXTRACT FROM ENGLISH HERITAGE'S RECORD OF SCHEDULED MONUMENTS MONUMENT: Moated site and fishpond S of Huntington Hall PARISH: HUNTINGTON DISTRICT: CHESTER COUNTY: CHESHIRE NATIONAL MONUMENT NO: 13417 NATIONAL GRID REFERENCE(S): SJ42956200 DESCRIPTION OF THE MONUMENT The moated site S of Huntington Hall includes a square island 65-70m across surrounded by a well defined moat up to 2.3m deep that is wet for over half its perimeter. A silted fishpond lies close to the NE corner of the moat. Most moats were constructed between 1250-1350 and 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. Internally the island displays a well preserved inner bank little damaged by the shallow ridge and furrow cultivation which crosses the site. A later pond, now dry, lies close to the SE corner of the island. Externally an outer bank runs around the N and E sides, being most prominent at the NE corner where it has been cut by a channel to allow movement of water between the presently silted fishpond and the moat. Access to the island was gained by a causeway across the E arm of the moat that is still in use as a public footpath. In medieval times, Huntington was owned by the church and had land confirmed in 1093 to the Benedictine monks of St Werburgh. All field boundaries running along the inner edge of the ditch are excluded from the scheduling, but the ground beneath them 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. The moated site and fishpond S of Huntington Hall survives well. The earthworks are well defined and the monument is of high archaeological potential due to the continued waterlogging and silting of much of the moat and fishpond providing conditions favourable to the preservation of organic remains. Additionally the monument is important because it represents a moat of sub-manorial status in the same parish as the larger moat and manorial centre at Huntington Old Hall. SCHEDULING HISTORY Monument included in the schedule on 14th December 1982 as: COUNTY NUMBER: Cheshire 123 NAME: Moated site south of Huntington Hall The reference of this monument is now: NATIONAL MONUMENT NUMBER: 13417 NAME: Moated site and fishpond S of Huntington Hall SCHEDULING AFFIRMED ON 21st March 1991