Scheduled Monument: Hall Bank Moated Site, Wybunbury (1012118)

EXTRACT FROM ENGLISH HERITAGE'S RECORD OF SCHEDULED MONUMENTS MONUMENT: Hall Bank moated site, Wybunbury PARISH: WYBUNBURY DISTRICT: CREWE AND NANTWICH COUNTY: CHESHIRE NATIONAL MONUMENT NO: 13438 NATIONAL GRID REFERENCE(S): SJ70274986 DESCRIPTION OF THE MONUMENT The monument known as Hall Bank lies E of St Chad's church and is a well preserved moated site approached by a long earthen causeway. The site consists of a raised island c.60m square upon which is an L-shaped scarp defining an elevated area interpreted as marking the position of the original hall. A dry moat up to 12m wide x 1-2m deep surrounds the island, and a wide outer bank encircling the moat has outlet channels cut through it at the SW and SE corners. An unusual feature at this site is a substantial raised causeway c.9m wide approaching from the W and leading to the outer edge of the moat from where a bridge or drawbridge would have provided access into the interior. A second moated site of similar form lies 200m to the SW. Most moats were constructed between 1250-1350 and are generally seen as the prestigious residences of the Lords of the manor. The moat in such circumstances marked the high status of the occupier, but also served to deter casual raiders and wild animals. All field boundaries 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. The monument at Hall Bank is in a good state of preservation unencumbered by modern building. It possesses considerable archaeological potential for the recovery of evidence of structural foundations of the building that originally occupied the island. Additionally the embanked access causeway is a rare and unusual feature associated with this class of monument. Of particular importance, however, is its close proximity to a second moated site which also survives well. Such close proximity is unusual for this class of monument. SCHEDULING HISTORY Monument included in the Schedule on 14th November 1969 as: COUNTY/NUMBER: Cheshire 79 NAME: Moated Site 600ft (182m) E of St Chad's Church The reference of this monument is now: NATIONAL MONUMENT NUMBER: 13438 NAME: Hall Bank moated site, Wybunbury SCHEDULING REVISED ON 22nd May 1991