Monument record 1945/1/1 - Moated site south of Huntington Hall

Moated site S of Huntington Hall. A square platform surrounded by a low bank, c.0.20-0.40m high & a moat c.10-12m wide, upto 2.3m deep. The moat is silted but wet & is intact on all sides. At the NE angle there is a square projection from the moat , 24m E-W & 21m N-S, containing remains of a possible ancillary island, possibly a garden or a fishpond. There is an original causeway on the E. Within the moat is slight ridge and furrow and a later pond in the SE corner. This moat may have been of sub-manorial status ,perhaps associated with assarting (1). Well preserved internal bank, which increases in height at corners. Causeway is set obliquely to ditch so possibly not original (2). Huntington is described in Domesday as part of the property of the canons of St Werburgh . It had land confirmed in 1093 to the Benedictine monks of St Werburgh (3). Has been suggested as a deserted medieval village, but no evidence for this theory (4).

<1> English Heritage, Various, Old/Original Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Description), /no.123 (Scheduling Record). SCH4606.

<1> English Heritage, Various, Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Amendment), /no.123 (Scheduling Record). SCH2950.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ46SW5 1986 (Index). SCH2487.

<3> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, Ormerod G 1882 2/770 (Book). SCH1389.

<4> Longley D, 1977-1978, Longley Archive, 6/A.410 (Paper Archive). SCH2005.

<5> Chester Archaeological Society, Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society, Simpson F 1908 14/107 (Journal/Periodical). SCH1595.

<6> English Heritage, Various, Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Amendment), 13417 (Scheduling Record). SCH2950.

<7> Cheshire Historic Environment Record, 1989, Jill Collens' Aerial Photographs, 6.0547-8 (Aerial Photograph). SCH9711.