Scheduled Monument: Cranshaw Hall Moated Site (1011888)

EXTRACT FROM ENGLISH HERITAGE'S RECORD OF SCHEDULED MONUMENTS MONUMENT: Cranshaw Hall moated site PARISH: HALTON DISTRICT: HALTON COUNTY: HALTON NATIONAL MONUMENT NO: 13480 NATIONAL GRID REFERENCE(S): SJ51768873 DESCRIPTION OF THE MONUMENT The monument is Cranshaw Hall moated site. It includes an island partially occupied by the 19th century rebuilding of Cranshaw Hall and farm buildings of approximately the same date. In the centre of the buildings is a cobbled yard that is an original feature containing a sandstone-lined well. The remainder of the island comprises lawns, ornamental shrubbery gardens and anaccess drive. The surrounding moat has been infilled - this task finally being completed in the late 1950's. The line of the moat's W arm can be traced across the lawn as a shallow depression c.15m wide x 0.2m deep. A modern sectional dwelling has been erected above the S end of the moat's W arm while farm outbuildings overlie part of the E arm. Access to the island was originally by a bridge. Cranshaw is first mentioned in 1270 and the moated site was in existence by 1400. The island is depicted on the 1840 Tithe Map as containing Cranshaw Hall and three subsidiary buildings. Cranshaw Hall, its farmbuildings, the sectional building and all service pipes; a greenhouse; a propane gas holder: the access drive, a path and all flagged areas are excluded from the scheduling. The ground beneath all these features, however, 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 is one of an important group of moated sites in the former township of Bold. Despite modern infilling of the moat the monument will retain considerable archaeological evidence of the original Cranshaw Hall, its subsidiary buildings and bridge. MONUMENT INCLUDED IN THE SCHEDULE ON 28th November 1991