Ancient Monuments

History on the Ground

This site is entirely user-supported. See how you can help.

Moated site at Wood Hall Farm

A Scheduled Monument in Codsall, Staffordshire

We don't have any photos of this monument yet. Why don't you be the first to send us one?

Upload Photo »

Approximate Location Map
Large Map »

If Google Street View is available, the image is from the best available vantage point looking, if possible, towards the location of the monument. Where it is not available, the satellite view is shown instead.

Coordinates

Latitude: 52.637 / 52°38'13"N

Longitude: -2.2248 / 2°13'29"W

OS Eastings: 384881.048152

OS Northings: 304386.436873

OS Grid: SJ848043

Mapcode National: GBR 18Q.NBB

Mapcode Global: WHBFJ.SZR8

Entry Name: Moated site at Wood Hall Farm

Scheduled Date: 9 September 1993

Source: Historic England

Source ID: 1007615

English Heritage Legacy ID: 21501

County: Staffordshire

Civil Parish: Codsall

Traditional County: Staffordshire

Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Staffordshire

Church of England Parish: Codsall St Nicholas

Church of England Diocese: Lichfield

Details

The monument includes a single rectangular platform surrounded by a moat. The
island measures 34m square and is slightly raised. Stone blocks are present
beneath the outer edge of the platform. These are visible where a modern
cutting exists at the south-west corner of the island. Two arms of the moat,
the south and east sides, are waterfilled and survive up to 12m wide and 3m
deep. The north and west arms, now infilled, remain visible as depressions in
the ground. There is a slight outer bank on the south arm of the moat which
is lined by mature trees. At the south west corner is a small pond measuring
21m by 19m. Although partially infilled, the pond remains waterlogged. It is
connected to the moat by a narrow inlet channel 1m wide and 6.5m long. A
modern drain has been cut into the north east corner of the pond.
The site of Wood Hall formerly belonged to the Deane family, who are recorded
as owners during the reign of Edward II.
The brick outbuilding on the western edge of the platform, and the surfaces of
the paths, at the northern edge of the site and on the platform, are excluded
from the scheduling, 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.

The monument at Wood Hall Farm survives particularly well, and represents a
good example of a moated site.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Books and journals
Johnstone, H, The Victoria History of the County of Staffordshire, (1908), 362
Larkham, P J, 'South Staffordshire Archaeological and Historical Society' in Moated Sites in South Staffordshire, , Vol. 24, (1983)

Source: Historic England

Other nearby scheduled monuments

AncientMonuments.uk is an independent online resource and is not associated with any government department. All government data published here is used under licence. Please do not contact AncientMonuments.uk for any queries related to any individual ancient or schedued monument, planning permission related to scheduled monuments or the scheduling process itself.

AncientMonuments.uk is a Good Stuff website.