Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

The remains of a Homestead moat at the site of Moat Farm, now in the gardens of a newly constructed housing estate. The moat remains in good condition and is often water-filled. Some stone revettments are also visible. The moat was previously used as an ornamental garden some 70-80 years ago. The central island also has the remains of a stone ice-house within it. The moat is scheduled as an ancient monument.

Monument Types

• MOAT (Medieval to Modern - 1066 AD? to 2050 AD?)
• GARDEN (Post Medieval to Modern - 1540 AD? to 1930 AD? (at some time))
• ICEHOUSE (Post Medieval - 1867 AD? to 1900 AD? (at some time))

Full description

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(TQ 58053745) Moat (NAT) (1) Homestead moat in good condition and water-filled for much of the year; a certain amount of stone revetting is visible. About 70 years ago the moat was an ornamental garden and the island retains the remains of a stone ice-house. The owner (a) could give noinformation on the early history of the site. Published survey OS 25" correct. (2) TQ 579374. Tunbridge Wells. Moated site at Moat Farm is scheduled no. 318. (3) TQ 580374. Tunbridge Wells. Moat Farm is listed in a checklist of moated sites in Kent. (4) Site visit by field officer July 1986. The area around the moat is being developed with a new housing estate. Trenches were examined but nothing seen. The moat is to be preserved within the garden of one of the houses. (5)

From the National Heritage List for England
Details
A nearly square, wide but shallow moat defines a small island about 40m square at this site. Within the area of the moat island is a post-Medieval ice house. Moated sites are usually seen as prestigious residences of the Lords of the Manor. The moat not only marked the high status of the occupier but also served to deter casual raiders and wild animals. Most moats were constructed between 1250 and 1350, and it is to this period that the example at Moat Farm is likely to date. Part of the moat island has been modified into a small, almost circular grove or grotto, with exotic tree species and rhododendrons around a central clear area. An ice-house of a type popular between 1840-50, used to store ice for the refrigeration of food, is integral to the design of the grove, since its domed earthen roof was used as an ornamental garden feature. The presence of the ice-house indicates a mid-19th century date for the conversion of the site into a garden feature. The modern bench within the grotto is excluded from the scheduling.

Reasons for Designation
Around 6,000 moated sites are known in England. They consist of wide ditches, often or seasonally water-filled, partly or completely enclosing one or more islands of dry ground on which stood domestic or religious buildings. In some cases the islands were used for horticulture. The majority of moated sites served as prestigious aristocratic and seigneurial residences with the provision of a moat intended as a status symbol rather than a practical military defence. The peak period during which moated sites were built was between about 1250 and 1350 and by far the greatest concentration lies in central and eastern parts of England. However, moated sites were built throughout the medieval period, are widely scattered throughout England and exhibit a high level of diversity in their forms and sizes. They form a significant class of medieval monument and are important for the understanding of the distribution of wealth and status in the countryside. Many examples provide conditions favourable to the survival of organic remains.

The Moat Farm site is of particular importance because it is sited on high ground and is spring-fed, rather then being sited in a valley as are most such sites. The moat is well preserved and remains wet throughout the year so that the potential for the recovery of perishable artefacts and of economic and environmental evidence from these waterlogged deposits is high. The island has been modified but features a well preserved ice-house as an example of re- use of the site at a much later date.

<1> OS 6" 1907-47 (OS Card Reference). SKE48321.

<2> Guy Peate Esq (OS Card Reference). SKE43650.

<3> F1 CFW 30.01.63 (OS Card Reference). SKE42823.

<4> DOE(IAM) AMs Eng 2 1978 113 (OS Card Reference). SKE41415.

<5> Moated sites Res Gp No 6 1979 48 (OS Card Reference). SKE47264.

<6> Kent Arch Rescue Unit Undated (D Garrod, field officer) (OS Card Reference). SKE45744.

<7> Field report for monument TQ 53 NE 2 - January, 1963 (Bibliographic reference). SKE2701.

Sources and further reading