Monument record 1201/0/1 - Medieval Moat at Alderhedge Wood

A well preserved water filled moat at Alderhedge Wood. Single rectangular moat c.54m x 55m, with an area of c3150 sq m. Moat is 10-12m wide x 1.4m deep to the water level. A number of stones along the moat may suggest a possible revetment. No apparent entrance. The owner reported that a hundred years or so ago, hounds were kept on the platform. (1).

A well preserved water filled homestead moat. Aligned with the south side of the moat is a shallow rectangular pond, 28.0m x 20.0m at SJ 68448012. It lies in woodland, has no apparent access, and is possibly a fishpond. Published survey (25" 1910) revised. (2).

The monument at Alderhedge Wood includes an island, moat, fishpond and connecting channel. The island measures c.29m square and is raised up to 1m above the surrounding land. It is wooded with a bracken and bramble undergrowth. The island is surrounded by a waterlogged moat 10-12m wide x 1.4m deep that is part of a complex water management system which sees silted channels on the moat's NE corner, N arm, W arm, and close to the SW and SE corners. Outer banks exist on the W and E sides while a substantial bank c.4m wide x 1m high flanks the S arm. Immediately S of this is a silted channel/drain c.3m wide running parallel to the moat and connecting with the channel close to the moat's SW corner. A waterlogged rectangular fishpond c.34m x 20m lies immediately to the S and is connected to the channel/drain by a short channel. A further silted channel enters the pond's E side. The monument was constructed during the early 14th century (3).

Alderhenge. Listed as a small rectangular moat with appendages (4).

The moat and pond to the S are as described; a modern field ditch separates them. The estate manager at Arley Hall, said the land had always been part of the Arley Hall estate. Before that was first built in 1469 family had preferred to live on their estate at Warburton. It is possible therefore that this moat is the site of the residence of the pre-1469 estate manager (5).

The moated site is on poorly draining Keuper Marl suggesting that it is in an area of later enclosure. Field artefact collection recovered no medieval artefacts. Field boundaries in the vicinity of the moat contain between five and seven species or in excess of seven species suggesting some antiquity. Dogs mercury is a common plant in those fields with names which make reference to woodland. It is notable that it is absent from Alderhedge Wood, suggesting that this is a later plantation, rather than a woodland remnant. This suggests that the area was cleared later than Aston, therefore this site could not be a precursor. Resitivity survey was undertaken on the moat platform and two transects were also undertaken to the north and north east in an attempt to confirm the location of a hypothesised road. The results are inconclusive. Pollen analysis of three samples taken from a core from the drained moat tentatively suggested an early fifteenth century date for the establishment of the site. An accurate contour survey was completed. No excavation was undertaken on the moat platform due to the belief that biological disturbance had compromised any archaeological deposits (6).

<1> Wilson D et al, 1973-1986, Moated Sites Research Group Records, SJ68SE1 1973 (Paper Archive). SCH2205.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ68SE1 1 (Index). SCH2487.

<3> English Heritage, Various, Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Amendment), 13484 (Scheduling Record). SCH2950.

<4> Moated Sites Research Group, 1971-86, Moated Sites Research Group Report, Vol.11 1984 p.5-7(S Harrop) (Report). SCH5202.

<5> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, HMJ 06.06.88 (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

<6> Burton J, 1981, Aston By Budworth: The Moated Site - a survey and research report (Unpublished Report). SCH5203.

<7> Burton J, 1970s-80s, Jill Burton Archive (Paper Archive). SCH5206.