Scheduled Monument: New Manor Farm Moated Site (1011891)

EXTRACT FROM ENGLISH HERITAGE'S RECORD OF SCHEDULED MONUMENTS MONUMENT: New Manor Farm moated site PARISH: PRESTON BROOK DISTRICT: HALTON COUNTY: HALTON NATIONAL MONUMENT NO: 13483 NATIONAL GRID REFERENCE(S): SJ58058039 DESCRIPTION OF THE MONUMENT New Manor Farm moated site includes an island surrounded by a waterloggedmoat. The island measures c.67m x 52m and contains New Manor farmhouse at itscentre with lawns, gardens and a cobbled access drive leading from a bridgeacross the E arm. A second bridge crosses the W arm. A waterlogged well liesadjacent to the S of the house. The moat varies in width, averaging c.8m x1.3m deep, but widens at all corners except the NW. There is an intermittentretaining wall up to 0.3m high lining much of the island. Buildingfoundations are known to lie beneath the lawns and gardens.The New Manor manor house was built in 1526 for John Dutton, an illegitimateson of the Dutton family, the local landowners from the reign of King Johnuntil 1705. The house was rebuilt at an unspecified date.New Manor farmhouse, an outhouse, a timber hut, an area of sandstone blocks,all service pipes and a sewage system beneath two flagged areas in the N lawn,a wall adjoining the SW corner of the house and all fences 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 moreislands of dry ground on which stood domestic or religious buildings. In somecases the islands were used for horticulture. The majority of moated sitesserved as prestigious aristocratic and seigneurial residences with theprovision of a moat intended as a status symbol rather than a practicalmilitary defence. The peak period during which moated sites were built wasbetween about 1250 and 1350 and by far the greatest concentration lies incentral and eastern parts of England. However, moated sites were builtthroughout the medieval period, are widely scattered throughout England andexhibit a high level of diversity in their forms and sizes. They form asignificant class of medieval monument and are important for the understandingof the distribution of wealth and status in the countryside. Many examplesprovide conditions favourable to the survival of organic remains.The monument is a well preserved example of the site of a late medieval moatedmanor house and will retain considerable archaeological evidence of theoriginal manor house beneath the present buildings and lawns. Additionallythe waterlogged moat and well will preserve organic material. MONUMENT INCLUDED IN THE SCHEDULE ON 28th November 1991