Monument record 1951/2/1 - Moated Site at Bruera

Please read our guidance about the use of Cheshire Historic Environment Record data.

Summary

The Moat at Bruera is a Scheduled Monument. It consists of a subrectangular moated platform which is well defined an all but the east side where a garden and road have destroyed it. The platform is currently occupied by an estate cottage and the original entrance must have been on the east side where the garden now lies. The placename of the Manor of Buerton was not documented until around 1220-30. By this time is was the manorial residence of a branch of family of Pulford, who had acquired this by military service at Aldford Castle. The manor passed by marriage to the Grosvenor family. An order to Sir Thomas le Grosvenor to repair his lands in Churton Heath and put them into a proper state of defence against Owain Glyndwr, issued in 1403-4, probably refers to this site. A 15th century description of the moated site at Buerton suggests a house of at least nine rooms, with a drawbridge, a hall within the main building and outside - a cowhouse and an orchard. Before 1472 the manor passed by marriage to the Stanleys of Hooton and it must have become disused from this date. By the 19th century the site is shown without buildings on maps. Moated Sites are characterized by a waterlogged ditch that encloses a platform of land where buildings were built though they were also used for horticulture e.g. orchards. They were most popular in medieval times though not necessarily for the defensive advantages of being on an island as they were also seen as a sign of prestige. There are approximately 6000 across England with over 200 moated sites in Cheshire alone.

Map

Find a placename, postcode or grid reference

Map layers

Base layers

Info

Record list

Tools

Type and Period (1)

MOAT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)

Full Description

Moat at Bruera. 'Hugh de Pulford (mentioned in 1286),probably lived in the house of which the moat still remains, close to Bruera Church'. He is described as the holder of the vill of Buerton (1).

Subrectangular moat 85m E- W x 80-85m N-S. Well defined on all but E side where it has been destroyed partly by a garden and a road. Depth of moat 1.4m.N arm is best defined - 11m wide at top,2m wide at base. W & S arms 18-20m wide and flat bottomed. Broad sheets of water may have been held in W & S arms against an overflow or sluice at SW corner. External bank 8-10m across on NW & S sides - this is 0.5m high on N. Central platform 65 x 45-55m,0.5m high. Scarps mark the removed boundaries associated with the modern estate cottage that occupies much of the platform. Original entrance presumably on E side, in area now lying in gardens (2).

For air photos, see SRW Buerton 3/0164, 3/0170, 3/0177, 3/0181, 3/0191 & 3/0192 (6).

<1> Chester Courant, 1878-1990, The Cheshire Sheaf, 23/66-67 1926 (Newspaper-Magazine). SCH3105.

<2> Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England (RCHME), 1986, Moat & Settlement Remains at Bruera (Unpublished Report). SCH2200.

<3> English Heritage, Various, Old/Original Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Description), No.48 (Scheduling Record). SCH4606.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ46SW20/1964 (Index). SCH2487.

<5> English Heritage, Various, Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Amendment), 13442 (Scheduling Record). SCH2950.

<6> Williams SR, 1970s-1980s, Rhys Williams' Aerial Photographs, SRW Buerton 3/0164, 3/0170, 3/0177, 3/0181, 3/0191 & 3/0192 (Aerial Photograph). SCH4607.

Sources/Archives (6)

<1> SCH3105 Newspaper-Magazine: Chester Courant. 1878-1990. The Cheshire Sheaf. N/A. 23/66-67 1926.
<2> SCH2200 Unpublished Report: Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England (RCHME). 1986. Moat & Settlement Remains at Bruera.
<3> SCH4606 Scheduling Record: English Heritage. Various. Old/Original Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Description). No.48.
<4> SCH2487 Index: Ordnance Survey. 1870-1982. Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card. SJ46SW20/1964.
<5> SCH2950 Scheduling Record: English Heritage. Various. Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Amendment). 13442.
<6> SCH4607 Aerial Photograph: Williams SR. 1970s-1980s. Rhys Williams' Aerial Photographs. SRW Buerton 3/0164, 3/0170, 3/0177, 3/0181, 3/0191 & 3/0192.

Related Monuments/Buildings (3)

Related Events/Activities (6)

External Links (0)

Location

Grid reference	Centred SJ 437 606 (103m by 108m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	SJ46SW
Civil Parish	BUERTON, CHESTER, CHESHIRE WEST AND CHESTER
Historic Township/Parish/County	BUERTON, ALDFORD, CHESHIRE

Protected Status/Designation

Record last edited

May 20 2024 1:41PM