Monument record HAM 001 - Moated site in Moatyard Covert (Med)

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Summary

Moat. Scheduled

Location

Grid reference Centred TM 450 795 (110m by 160m)
Map sheet TM47NE
Civil Parish WANGFORD WITH HENHAM, WAVENEY, SUFFOLK

Map

Type and Period (3)

Full Description

Moat. Isolated on stream and parish boundary, sub-square, unoccupied. In Moatyard Covert, N of Henham Park, is an oval moat of great width close to the S bank of a stream. From its W side it branches out for 200 feet, then turns in a N direction until it joins the stream. On the SW of the oval moat is another length of wide entrenchment, also supported by the stream on the NE. It is possible that this was an early entrenched position afterwards adapted to manorial moats (S1).
A small manorial work comprising a central moated area with two perimeter flanking ditches. There are no surface indications of a former building within the moat although extensive nettle growth and a surface scatter of oyster shells, mussel shells and fragmentary pottery ranging from Rom to late Med are evidence of long occupation. The copse in which the earthwork was formerly situated has now been cleared of trees; such clearing has, in places, mutilated the slope profile. The central moat is polygonal and not oval. Published survey (25 inch) revised (JB F1 17/8/1970)(S2)). 1975: A wide roughly rectangular moat, now dry and up to 7 feet deep enclosing an area about 200 feet x 175 feet. There is an entrance on the SE side of the moat (S3).
1981: Firs now maturing and site is difficult to assess, as trees and undergrowth present a dense cover (S3).
Med pottery C14 (?) turned up by plough within the moated area. Ploughed for the first time in living memory, 1957. Sherds of hard grey wheel-made pottery retained by Master Simon Loftus, Bulcamp House, Halesworth (S4).

Sources/Archives (7)

  • <M1> (No record type): SAM file:.
  • <R1> (No record type): Dickinson P G M, Little Guide to Suffolk, 1957, 189.
  • <S1> Bibliographic reference: 1911. Victoria County History, Suffolk (VCH). 611.
  • <S2> Index: OS. OS Card. OS, card TM47NE4, 1970.
  • <M2> Unpublished document: Suffolk Archaeological Service. Parish Files. Parish file: letters between Earl of Stradbroke & Ablitt F C, 1977.
  • <S3> Unpublished document: Department of the Environment. Scheduling information.
  • <S4> Index: Ipswich Museum. IPSMG card. IPSMG, card Henham Med, 1957.

Finds (1)

Protected Status/Designation

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (6)

Record last edited

May 23 2012 11:15AM

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