Reasons for Designation
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.
Fishponds were of considerable importance in the medieval period as they
provided a good source of protein during the winter months when fresh meat was
scarce. They are usually associated with manorial, monastic or royal
residences and provide an insight into the social standing of its associated
building.
Although somewhat disturbed by agriculture, the moated site at Urrist Barn
survives well and is largely unencumbered by later structures. Buried
deposits on the island will include the remains of medieval structures and
will contain archaeological information relating to the construction and
subsequent occupation and use of the moated site. The fishpond to the west of
the moat also survives well and will provide important information about the
status and economy of the moated site.
Within the moat and fishpond, waterlogged deposits will preserve
archaeological remains relating to the occupation and use of the site, along
with organic material which will provide information about the economy of the
site and the local landscape in which the monument was set.
Details
The monument includes a moated site with an associated fishpond and other
earthworks, 220m south west of Yew Tree Farm. The moat is four-armed,
enclosing an island which measures 22m by 20m orientated north-south, which
lies at the same level as the surrounding field. The moat is 6m wide at its
widest point and is visible as an earthwork up to 0.4m deep. An external
bank, about 0.6m high and 9m wide, runs alongside the west arm of the moat. A
causeway, about 7m wide, providing access to the island is visible on the
eastern arm. To the south of the moat are a series of slight earthworks which
mark the location of a fishpond, measuring about 72m east to west and up to
12m wide. There are also a series of water management features, including two
leats, which ran into Norman's Brook to the south of the site. At the south
west corner of the moat is a large mound, measuring about 14m in diameter, the
function of which is unclear, but which is thought to have been associated
with the moated site.
The ruins of the 19th century barn, known as Urrist Barn, which lies to
the east of the moat, and the fence which runs alongside the road to the east
of the site are both excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath
these features is included.
MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.
