Monument record 1273/1/1 - Hough Hall moated site, ancillary enclosure & fishpond

Site of moat at Hough Hall. Platform c.30m sq with moat 12-14m wide on 3 sides.Moat now dry,but water-filled till 1938. Ridge & furrow SE to NW over entire site (1). Detailed contour & geophysical survey revealed D-shaped lesser enclosure to SW of moat, 2 smaller ponds against NE arm & poss dam N corner of field (2). Platform developed as messuage, prob by freeholder of lesser gentry status in later med period. Excavation 1988, revealed 3 phases of occupn. Phase I-3 pits cut into clay sub-soil. Phase II-pits sealed by cultivated loam soil. Phase III-moat constructed. Poss palisade round platform perimeter. Oven of 4 phases constructed in NW corner of platform. Rough-out of mulstone used in its construction. Probably abandoned c.AD.1300- 1500. Traces of 4 clay floors poss representing buildings identified. 1 floor next to flued oven, prob formed base of kitchen or bakehouse. The oven was successively refurbished. 2nd floor from its corner position on platform can only have formed the base for another small, ancillary blg. Unlikely occupation of moated platform lasted more than a few decades. 14th & 15th C pottery recovered suggests decades around 1400 provide likely period of settlement, which had eased by late C15. Remains identified imply a complex group of blgs occupying a messuage of high status. This may have been the seat of the Venables family of 'Strethul' - "Street-hill" (3). For air photos, see NJH 3492/4,6,8 & 3493/2-12 (7).As Above.A grassy outer bank 9m wide x 0.6m high flanks NE arm of moat, a waterlogged pond/marl pit is cut into the banks E end.To SW of moat is a partially drained and infilled fish pond 45m x 21m.Next to moats SW arm is a grassy ancillary enclosure measuring c.40m x 70m (8).

<1> Wilson D et al, 1973-1986, Moated Sites Research Group Records, 6/8-9 1979 (Paper Archive). SCH2205.

<2> Garbutt A, 1986, Hough Hall Moated Site (Unpublished Document). SCH1455.

<3> Chester Archaeological Society, Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society, Higham N J 1988 70/87-97 (Journal/Periodical). SCH1595.

<4> Higham N J, 1988, Hough Hall: Trial Excavation of a Moated Platform in Mere Township (Book). SCH1456.

<5> Higham N J, Medieval Settlement Research Group - Annual Report, 3/20 1988 (Book). SCH2179.

<7> Higham N J, 1984-9, Professor Nick Higham's Aerial Photographs, 1986/5/4, 6, 8 & 1986/6/2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 (Aerial Photograph). SCH7659.

<8> English Heritage, Various, Old/Original Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Description) (Scheduling Record). SCH4606.

<8> English Heritage, Various, Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Amendment), 13478 (Scheduling Record). SCH2950.