Monument record 191/1/1 - Moated site

A large and highly complex moated site is visible on aerial photographs. It consisted of a main trapezoidal-shaped platform, c.80m square with two smaller moated enclosures along the western side which may have been remains of a garden. The area was enclosed in small fields of ridge and furrow (1). This complex is shown on early OS maps but by 1960 had been completely built over (2). L McKenna reports that during relaying of the road system in 1972, the main moat ditch was found to be up to 16ft deep (3).
An evaluation undertaken in 2001, comprising seven linear trenches, located the ditch and showed that it was farther east than anticipated; the structures where not located. The ditch is though to have had little disturbance from the following building works and may still have archaeological potential (4).

<1> Various, Aerial photographs, /4364-5 RAF 1947 (Aerial Photograph). SCH128.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, Waggott T 1964 SJ65SE2 (Index). SCH2487.

<3> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, McKenna L 1987 (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

<4> Earthworks Archaeological Services, 2001, Residential Development at The Moathouse Estate, Valley Road, Crewe, Cheshire: A Programme of Archaeological Evaluation, R2359 (Client Report). SCH3904.