Details

The monument includes the earthwork and buried remains of a medieval moated
site immediately north west of Cloverley Farm. It is situated 1.1km from
another moated site north east of Manor Farm, Calverhall, and 1.5 km from the
moated site in Newstreet Plantation, Newstreet Lane, both of which are the
subject of separate schedulings.
This moated site was constructed on a gradual north east facing slope in an
area of flat and gently undulating land. The water-filled moat defines a
rectangular island approximately 40m north west-south east by 48m south west-
north east. The arms of the moat are all about 14m wide, with the exception of
the north western arm which is about 20m wide. Material excavated from the
moat has been used to raise the north eastern portion of the island by about
0.5m in order to create a level platform. A 19th century cast iron suspension
bridge on brick abutments crosses the south western moat arm, and a former
timber bridge crosses the north western arm. In a field 50m to the north of
the moated site are the remains of former ridge and furrow cultivation strips.
As there is no direct relationship between the moated site and the cultivation
remains, the area of ridge and furrow is not included in the scheduling.
The cast iron and timber bridges are excluded from the scheduling, although
the ground beneath them is 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 immediately north west of Cloverley Farm is a good example of
this class of monument. The moated island will retain buried evidence of the
buildings that once stood on the site, which together with the associated
artefacts and organic remains will provide valuable evidence about the
occupation and social status of the inhabitants of the site. Organic remains
surviving in the buried ground surface under the raised interior and within
the moat will provide information about the changes to the local environment
and the use of the land before and after the moated site was constructed.

Source: Historic England