Scheduled Ancient Monument: MOATED SITE AT MOAT FARM (30577)

The monument includes a moated site and an adjacent small moated island which is thought to be the site of an associated dovecote. The moated site is located approximately 1.5km north west of St John the Baptist's Church, alongside the north western end of what was formerly Shadingfield Common, enclosed at the beginning of the 19th century. To the north west of the earthwork there are remains of a medieval settlement and a second moated site which are the subject of a separate scheduling. The moat, which is water-filled and approximately 6m wide, extends along the northern and western sides and around the north eastern and south western corners of a rectangular central island with internal dimensions of about 90m WNW-ESE by 75m. It is thought that originally it also enclosed the south eastern part of the central island, and although this part has been infilled, it will survive as a buried feature. The eastern end of the northern arm has been enlarged externally to form a sub-rectangular pond measuring about 24m east-west by 21m, and at the centre of the moated island is a separate pond measuring about 22m in length east-west by 6m, although it is depicted on an early 19th century map as somewhat wider. The western end of this central pond is linked to the southern arm of the moat by a partly infilled channel, the southern end of which remains visible as a linear hollow about 3m wide. A house, considered to be largely 16th century in date, stands on the eastern side of the central island, and to the south west of this an 18th century barn. The house, which is a Listed Building Grade II* and the barn, which is a Listed Building Grade II, are both excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath them is included. The second, much smaller moat, which is sub-rectangular, with maximum overall dimensions of about 32m WNW-ESE by 25m, lies approximately 20m to the north of the northern arm of the first and is connected to it by a partly infilled channel about 3.5m wide. The north western corner of this moat projects outward, with an extension about 4m wide running north westwards. The extension has been largely infilled, although it will survive as a buried feature, and the site is marked by a slight depression in the ground surface. The moat surrounds a roughly rectangular central island, raised about 1.2m above the prevailing ground level and with dimensions of about 12.5m east-west by 8m, and is identified as the site of a dovecote. The house and barn, all associated outbuildings, standing walls, concrete surfaces, modern fence posts and service poles are excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath all these features is included.