Scheduled Monument: Edleston Moated Site And Fishpond (1009866)

EXTRACT FROM ENGLISH HERITAGE'S RECORD OF SCHEDULED MONUMENTS MONUMENT: Edleston moated site and fishpond PARISH: EDLESTON DISTRICT: CREWE AND NANTWICH COUNTY: CHESHIRE NATIONAL MONUMENT NO: 13518 NATIONAL GRID REFERENCE(S): SJ63795076 DESCRIPTION OF THE MONUMENT The monument is Edleston moated site and fishpond. The site includes an island raised up to 1.5m high and measuring some 50m by 30m. Surrounding the island is a partially infilled dry moat that is best preserved on the south and west sides where it is up to 17m wide by 1m deep. On the monument's western side the moat widens out to form a dry fishpond measuring 45m by 35m and 1m deep. In 1398 Thomas de Fouleshurst of Edleston was given licence for an oratory which is assumed to be on this site. An inquisition post-mortem of c.1500 for John de Fouleshurst mentions a gatehouse, bridge, ditch and chapel. The field boundary on the monument's northern side and the fence flanking the railway line to the south-east are excluded from the scheduling. The ground beneath 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. Despite some levelling of the monument's profile by ploughing and infilling the site remains in reasonably good condition and is unencumbered by modern development. The island still stands some 1.5m above the moat and evidence of the medieval house, 14th century oratory, and the gatehouse, bridge and chapel referred to in documents of c.1500 will survive there. MONUMENT INCLUDED IN THE SCHEDULE ON 09th March 1992