Moated enclosure 230m north-west of Faulkner House

Summary

Medieval moated manorial site, including a central platform, surrounding ditch (moat) and outer bank, located approximately 230m north-west of Faulkner House.

Reasons for Designation

The moated enclosure 230m north-west of Faulkner House, dating back to at least the C14, is scheduled for the following principal reasons:

* Survival: as a well-defined earthwork monument retaining all the major elements of the moated manorial complex, it is a good example of its type;

* Potential: there is clear evidence for the survival of significant buried structural remains, and for the possible survival of waterlogged organic material (which, if present and scientifically analysed, could have the potential to enhance our knowledge and understanding of the manorial site and the wider social and economic landscape in which it functioned);

* Documentation: the existence of documentary evidence linking the locally significant Walpole and Rochford families enhances the significance and history of the site;

* Diversity: with a clearly defined platform, moat and external bank the diversity of features is high.

History

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.

It has been suggested by various sources that the moated enclosure at West Drove was the manorial centre of the Rochford family, who are linked to the foundation of St Edmund’s Chapel once located on the opposite side of West Drove. A writer from the C19 claimed that the area was known as either Rochford or Richford, and historical records also from the C19 record the Walpole and Rochford families having manors in this area between C13 and C15. Sir John Rochford was Constable of nearby Wisbech Castle from 1403 to 1410. These links are however not confirmed. There is evidence of another possible manor house adjacent to the chapel with roof tiles found near identical to those from the moated enclosure. As this latter house had been built on higher ground, it is suggested that the house in the moated enclosure may have been abandoned due to a flooding incident in the late medieval period. A map from 1582 shows no sign of a manor house in the enclosure, meaning it had likely already been demolished at this time.

The site is recorded on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey map 1:2500 (1887) for Norfolk and was recorded by Royal Commission for Historic Monuments England (RCHME) in 1968. In 1983 the Norfolk Archaeological Unit reported the survival of the north side of the moat along with parts of the west and east sides. Brick and fired clay were recovered at this time along with C14 pottery sherds. Post medieval sherds were also found, indicating later use. A resistivity survey was commissioned in 2004 to help establish a greater understanding of the moated enclosure. This identified possible masonry walling lining the moat internally and externally. A metal detecting survey followed in 2011 helping to confirm the use of the moated enclosure between the C13 and C15. Subsequent finds including pottery, bricks, floor, and roof tiles also support this. A trench in the northern section of the moat was opened in 2011 and another in the southern section in 2012, both extending to the centre of the enclosure, revealing the old ground surface had originally risen from the moat towards the centre.

Details

Principal Elements

Medieval moated manorial site, including a central platform, surrounding ditch (moat) and outer bank, located approximately 230m north-west of Faulkner House.

Description

The moated enclosure survives as a series of earthworks and buried remains with some surviving up to 2m high. The features of the moat are visible on aerial photography and from ground level. The site is located to the west of West Drove North, Walton Highway, centred at TF 4972 1398. The rectangular enclosure extends approximately 100m west to east and 60m north to south.

The earthworks comprise of a moated ditch to the south, east and west sides. The depth of the ditch on the west side is around 2m and 6m wide. It is often waterlogged, meaning there is a strong chance for archaeological deposits to have been preserved. The north side of the ditch has a depth of around 1m but only the inner edge of the moat was located here during resistivity survey. The south side and half of the east side of the ditch has been infilled with rubble, surviving now only as a slight depression. Features and archaeological remains will still likely survive below. The central platform of the enclosure measures 70m west to east and 40m north to south.

The resistivity survey of 2004 identified the south side of the moat to be flanked by rectilinear high resistance anomalies, suggesting remains of internal and external walling. In the north-west corner short rectilinear anomalies were also detected which could reflect traces of masonry walls. No evidence was found of an entrance or gate lodge. In the centre of the enclosure further linear anomalies were detected, some of which are not perpendicular to the rectangular moat, suggesting this could relate to modern disturbance. The report also recorded the central platform as undulating from west to east, with the ground being higher at the east end where a build-up of soil has created a small mound around 0.61m high, this is thought to be relatively modern material placed on the platform. The enclosure has since been disturbed by agricultural ploughing in 2006. The trenches opened in 2011 and 2012 respectively confirmed that soil from the centre had been moved towards the moat to aid agriculture during the C20 as lenses of clay were found torn and mixed with silt layers close to today’s ground surface.

A substantial mound of around 1.2m high lies around 330m to the north-east of the moated enclosure. This mound showed a surface stained black by occupation residue and evidenced by medieval and post medieval refuse finds. Another mound in the field to the north of the enclosure also showed a similar span of occupation. Within the field of the moated enclosure are two further mounds, one to the east, around 0.6m, centred at TF49791398 and another to the south-west, centred at TF49631390. These features do not form part of the scheduling.

Extent of Scheduling

The scheduling includes the full extent of the medieval moated manorial site, including the central platform, surrounding ditch (moat) and outer bank. There is also a 3m buffer zone considered necessary for the support and preservation of the monument.

Sources

Other
DTM lidar from 2020 – 1m. HSA315 (Hill Shade Azimuth 315)
1st edition OS 1:2500 1887 (Norfolk)
Resistivity Survey of a Moated Site, West Drove North, Walpole St Peter, Norfolk, Clarke, J, (2004)
Metal Detecting Survey, Fenland Archaeological Society, Keatley, A, (2018)

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