Details

The Queenbury moat is a double island moated site situated on the eastern side
of Reed village. The site consists of a large moated enclosure, in the
south-east quadrant of which is a smaller moated enclosure, and an associated
fishpond. The north-east corner of the larger moat is built over and believed
to be heavily disturbed and is not included in the scheduling. The small
enclosure measures c.85m north-south by c.80m east-west. The moat arms are
approximately 10m wide and 3m deep and there is evidence of spoil mounds on
either side of the western arm of the inner moat. The northern arm, the only
part of the double enclosure which remains waterlogged, is partly infilled.
The outer moated enclosure is approximately 120m square. The remains of the
southern and most of the eastern arm are visible, the rest has been infilled
and there is a house and outbuildings now lying across the projected line of
the northern arm. The outer enclosure has both inner and outer banks up to a
height of 0.5m on the south and east sides.
To the north-east of the moat is an irregular shaped fishpond which connects
with the moat. It measures c.60m maximum east-west by c.17m maximum
north-south.
Excluded from the scheduling are the driveway, the house, the tennis
courts and the outbuildings on the southern arm of the inner moat but the
ground beneath these features is included.

MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.

Source: Historic England

Reasons for Scheduling

Around 6,000 moated sites are known in England. They consist of wide ditches,
often or seasonally water-filled, partly or completely enclosing one or more
islands of dry ground on which stood domestic or religious buildings. In some
cases the islands were used for horticulture. The majority of moated sites
served as prestigious aristocratic and seigneurial residences with the
provision of a moat intended as a status symbol rather than a practical
military defence. The peak period during which moated sites were built was
between about 1250 and 1350 and by far the greatest concentration lies in
central and eastern parts of England. However, moated sites were built
throughout the medieval period, are widely scattered throughout England and
exhibit a high level of diversity in their forms and sizes. They form a
significant class of medieval monument and are important for the understanding
of the distribution of wealth and status in the countryside. Many examples
provide conditions favourable to the survival of organic remains.

Queenbury moat is a well-preserved double enclosure moat with a diversity of
features. It is one of an unusual concentration of six recorded moats in the
village of Reed.

Source: Historic England