Details

The monument includes the earthwork and buried remains of a medieval moated
site and an adjacent field system situated in an area of gently undulating
land with good views of the surrounding countryside. The water-filled moat
defines a square island 40m across. Access onto the island is via a modern
bridge across the north western moat arm. The arms of the moat have an average
width of 14m and are all at least 1m deep, and there is a 15m extension to the
western part of the south western arm. A later drainage ditch has been cut
from the south western corner of the moat. The remains of a strip cultivation
system (ridge and furrow) surround the moat on its northern, eastern and
western sides. A 20m wide sample area of this cultivation system is included
in the scheduling in order to preserve its relationship with the moat.
A number of features are excluded from the scheduling, these are; the modern
field boundaries, gates and fences, the modern bridge over the north western
moat arm and the surface of the track that runs past the site; the ground
beneath all these features is, however, included.

MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.
It includes a 2 metre boundary around the archaeological features,
considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.

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 moated site 250m south east of Middle Morrey is a well-preserved example
of this class of monument. The moated island will retain structural and
artefactual evidence of the buildings that once stood on the site, which
together with the artefacts and organic remains existing in the moat, will
provide valuable information about the occupation and social status of the
inhabitants. Organic remains surviving in the moat will also provide
information about changes to the local environment and use of the land.
The cultivation remains demonstrate the nature of agricultural practices in
the area following the construction of the moated site.

Source: Historic England