Monument record HAM 001 - Moated site in Moatyard Covert

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).

March 2014. Lothingland, Lowestoft and North Suffolk Coast and Heaths National Mapping Programme.
The polygonal moat described above is clearly visible as an earthwork, without tree cover, on aerial photographs (S5 and S6), and has been mapped as it appears to show a slight extension, or pond, which may represent a possible fish pond, adjoining its south-western corner at TM 4496 7950. There is a suggestion of slight banks on the moat platform itself, which have also been mapped. On the latest available photographs (S7) the area is tree-covered and it is therefore difficult to assess whether any of the earthworks survive.
E. Ford (Norfolk Historic Environment Service), 15th January 2014.