Monument record 371 - Moat

A square moat, straddling a modern field boundary just north of Ridley Green Farm, is visible on aerial photographs. A broad ditch or channel in the south-east corner runs towards a stream. Moats are characterised 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.