Monument record PSM 001 - Manor Farm; Maisters Manor (site of)

Moat. Two arms, both curved, probably sub rectangular/square, circa 50m across interior. Close to parish boundary, circa 100m distante. Occupied. Partially wet. Landscaped in C18 (S1).
Site of Maisters or Maysters Manor. Given by Gilbert de Kentwelle to the Preceptory of the Knights of St John at Battisford, prior to 1234-5. At the Reformation the manor was granted, 1543/4, to Andrew Judde of London and regranted to Robert Spring of Lavenham (S2).
2011: Monitoring of ground works for two extensions, drainage pipe trenches and internal alterations recorded a ditch of uncertain date, a clay built oven of probable medieval date and a 19th century well within the area of the moated island. While all of the finds were unstratified the moderately large pottery group hints at an Iron Age presence with a single rim sherd before medieval activity commenced in the 11th/12th century period. The ceramic sequence is then continuous to the present with a typical south Suffolk group for the medieval period and some evidence of moderate to high status in the 16th/17th century and it is noteworthy that the house is dated to the mid 17th century (S4).
2013: Monitoring of ground works for a new greenhouse revealed deposits of a recent depth to the full depth of 800mm in the foundation trenches apparently confirming that the site is located on the line of the now filled-in western arm of the moat. Examination of a shallow soil strip for an associated path recorded the probable inner edge of this arm of the moat just to the west of a recently constructed extension to the house (S4).

Included in the Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History annual round up of individual finds and discoveries for 2011 (S5).