Monument record GSG 002 - Medieval moat.

Moat. Unoccupied, part gone. Chalk spreads found - possible floors of building. TM 059 722 sherds of C13 pottery found by Basil Brown and Denis Compton on Lady Margaret Farm (formerly Street Farm) in 1963. Site is close to and E of fields named Further Temple Field, Great Temple Field, New Temple Field and Middle Temple Field, which made Basil consider the site as a possible location for the Preceptory of the Knights Templar known to be at Gislingham. A second alternative is GSG 009 on Temple Close (S1).

Preceptory of Knights Templars, founded before 1222-6, when Brother Alan Mantel was recorded as master; changed from Templars to Hospitallers in 1309. Said to have been devastated in 1338, it was mentioned in 1434 in the lists of Knights Templars and Hospitallers in England, compiled by Fr John Stillingflete, and again in 1553 in a manuscript in the Augmentation Office. There are no buildings remaining (S2-3).

"Believed site of Templars Preceptory. Area with moat 60 ft by 60 ft, nearly circular 'Temple Lane' in vicinity. Cross symbol on Tithe Map. Gislingham Farm now called Lady Margaret's Farm. Visited 1951. (Associated with Mellis St John's Manor and Rickinghill Fitz John's Manor)". (Remains of Moat shown on 6") (S4).

In an area of level terrain under fresh plough, is a waterfilled but silting ditch which now has no appearance of a moat. The farmer states that an extension from the S end of the ditch (circa 3.0m wide) gave it a "squarish" shape, but this has been completely filled in. He reports no finds from the area, and none were made during field investigation (S5).