Monument record GSE 001 - Gisleham Manor House

Moat, isolated, small square, central to large square enclosure, Gisleham Manor House, central platform unoccupied, buildings, including `Manor Farm', in outer court.
'Gisleham Manor House (site of)' recorded on OS maps. According to owner, central area archaeologically excavated about 25 years ago (i.e. c.1974) with JCB by trenching. No further details (S1).
January 1999: Being assessed for scheduling (S1).
July 2000: Scheduled - details in (S2).

October 2000: Monitoring of soil strip over former 19th century cottage footings (perhaps former gatehouse). Area to south of site between inner and outer moats. One ditch of 15th-16th century date was found with domestic refuse in the fill. Three pieces of worked limestone were found in the subsoil comprising a window mullion and two arch segments of 15th-16th century date and likely from a domestic building. A well and cobbled surface were also found which were related to the previous cottage on the site. (S13)

September-December 2003: Groundworks associated with services were monitored. Two sections of flint and mortar wall were revealed in the monitored service trench located c.2.5m apart and possibly running parallel on a NW-SE orientation. An area of gravel/hardstanding and a dusturbed rubble layer were found in the eastern portion of the service trench closer to the house. One sherd of medieval coarseware was recovered as an unstratified find. The walls are likely associated with medieval activity within the moated area where ancillary buildings are believed to have existed in addition to the main dwelling. The rubble layer might also be medieval or post medieval, possibly associated with the previous house. (S14)

August 2014. Lothingland, Lowestoft and North Suffolk Coast and Heaths National Mapping Programme.
The moat described above is clearly visible on aerial photographs (S4-S9). Several earthwork ditches are also visible in the vicinity, one of which is located between the inner and outer moats, but these have been recorded separately (SHER GSE 080) as they were considered likely to represent post medieval drainage features. An earthwork bank, also located between the inner and outer moats was also considered likely to relate to post medieval clearance of the moat, although it is possible that this does in fact relate to the medieval period of the manor.
E. Ford (Norfolk Historic Environment Service), 7th August 2014.

A double moat at Manor Farm, Gisleham. The inner averages 24ft wide, the banks rising 4ft above water level. The outer one,
measuring 500 ft by 520 ft averaging 12ft wide, the banks being 3ft 6 ins above water level (S10).

This double moat is situated in flat arable land circa 15.0m above Od. The inner moat with overall dimensions of 64.0m north to south and 56.0m east to west has three complete waterfilled arms, the southern one having been partially infilled. The arms have a maximum width of 14.0m and a maximum depth of 0.5m. An inlet from the outer moat is visible in the north east corner but no outlet can be seen. The island stands 1.0m above the surrounding area and is ploughed. Building rubble is evident scattered over the area. The outer moat has overall dimensions of 159.0m north to south and 170.0m east to west. The waterfilled arms have a maximum depth of 2.0m and a maximum width of 10.0m The western arm is broken in the centre by a causeway, the southern arm has been partly destroyed by the construction of the present farm. An inlet is visible at the south west corner but no outlet could be found. The area between the two moats is part ploughed and part wooded. No finds of interest were made. No local information was at hand regarding the site of Gisleham Manor House (S11).

Listed as a strong house by Cathcart King (S12)