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Monument details
| HER Number: | TR 02 NE 38 |
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| Type of record: | Monument |
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| Name: | Medieval field system and moated manor, Newchurch |
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Summary
Earthworks.
| Grid Reference: | TR 0642 2985 |
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| Map Sheet: | TR02NE |
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| Parish: | NEWCHURCH, SHEPWAY, KENT |
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Monument Types
Full description
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Much of the field is divided into 3 large, roughly equal sized plots by earthwork ditches. A rectangular area of uneven ground extends into the next field, centred at approx. TR 0640 2981, which is the site of a house shown on a map of 1617, probably dating from the MD period. Enclosing ditches surround the area, being almost of moat proportions. 3 truncated branches project from these into the the enclosure, again extended into the next field. These may have been MD fishponds, if so, they are unique. The remainder of the next field at TR 065 299 is divided into 5 plots of various shapes and sizes. (1)
The monument includes an abandonned Medieval moated residence and an area of associated small fields or closes. It is situated towards the centre of Romney Marsh on low-lying, artificially drained land around 2km south east of Newchurch. The moated residence lies within the north western part of the monument and survives in the form of earthworks, below ground building foundations and associated buried remains. The north-south aligned, roughly rectangular moated island measures approximately 125m by 45m and is surrounded by ditches up to 15m wide and 1m deep. Projectiong from the moat onto the island are three narrow ponds which have been interpreted as fishponds. The associated closes cover the remainder of the monument in an irregular grisd pattern and take the form of at least 14 small rectangular fields enclosed by ditches which are now mostly dry. Mathew Poker's map of romney and Walland Marshes, dating to 1617, depicts a dwelling on the moated island. Later cartographic sources indicate that the house had become abandoned and demolished by the mid-17th century. (2)
<1> Not applicable, SMR Kent uncatalogued index entry, Romney Marsh earthworks survey, SEAS, 1996. (Miscellaneous Material). SKE6440.
<2> English Heritage, 1965, Dover Castle (Scheduling record). SKE6594.
Sources and further reading
| Cross-ref.
| Source description | | <1> | Miscellaneous Material: Not applicable. SMR Kent uncatalogued index entry. Romney Marsh earthworks survey, SEAS, 1996.. |
| <2> | Scheduling record: English Heritage. 1965. Dover Castle. |
