Monument record 183/2 - Moated Site 300m SE of St Chad's Church, Wybunbury

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, Waggott T, 1964, SJ74NW6 (Index). SCH2487.

A well-preserved homestead moat close to the parish boundary of Wybunbury situated on wet low-lying ground. Square in plan, with ditch c.1m deep, surrounding a platform 40m square. Causeway with ditches to either side runs to the north-west.

<2> Various, Aerial photographs, S.R. Williams, 1979 (Aerial Photograph). SCH128.

One of two moated sites close together in Wybunbury. One must be the manor house, the other the rectory. For air photos, see S.R. Williams, Wybunbury l, 2 & 4 & 621.

<3> English Heritage, Various, Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Amendment), 13439, 29/05/1991 (Scheduling Record). SCH2950.

Scheduled area amended. Grass-covered island c.40m sq rising slightly towards S & SE. Dry moat 8-9m wide and 0.5m deep, best preserved at SW. Outer bank 6.5m max. width encircles the moat and has outlet channels cut through at N & NE corners & along SE side. Long causeway c.6m wide approaches from NW, flanked by dry ditches and low outer bank on NE. Faint remains of fishpond to SW of causeway.

<4> Gifford and Partners, 1993, Report on an Archaeological Watching Brief at St Chad's Church Moated Site, Wybunbury, Cheshire, R2058 (Client Report). SCH4303.

An archaeological watching brief was undertaken in 1993 during water pipe-laying operations in the vicinity of a moated site close to St Chad's Church, Wybunbury. Only a limited area of the southern corner of the moated site was affected. Archaeological features identified comprised banks of upcast material lying outside the moat resulting from its excavation and subsequent clearing. Also an outlet channel through the banks was identified. It may have been that successive moat clearance operations created external banks so large that the moat became prone to over-filling, necessitating the cutting of drainage channels through the banks. An earlier soil horizon and later potential flood deposits were also identified.

<5> English Heritage, Various, Scheduled Monument Consent Letter, 26/05/1993 (Written Communication). SCH2963.

<6> Historic England, 2011, The National Heritage List for England, 1012107 (Web Site). SCH6528.

The monument is situated 300m SE of St Chad's Church on low lying land prone to flooding. It consists of a slightly raised grass-covered island c.40m square that rises towards the S and SE. A dry moat 8-9m wide x 0.5m deep surrounds the island and is best preserved at the SW corner. An outer bank 6.5m max. width encircles the moat and has outlet channels cut through it at the N and NE corners and along the SE side. An unusual feature at this site is a long causeway 6m wide approaching from the NW and flanked by dry ditches and a low outer bank on the NE. To the immediate SW of this causeway, there are faint remains of a former fishpond. Access to the interior of the moated site would have been by a bridge or drawbridge. A second moated site of similar form lies 200m to the NE. Most moats were constructed between 1250-1350 and are generally seen as the prestigious residences of the Lords of the manor. The moat in such circumstances marked the high status of the occupier, but also served to deter casual raiders and wild animals. A telegraph pole and wooden cable support on the SW outer bank and an inspection chamber on the SE outer bank are excluded from the scheduling. The ground beneath these features, however, is included.