Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

A Medieval moated site at Moat Farm, visible as a earthwork with original causewayed enclosures. Excavation of the interior has located two late 13th to early 14th century timber-framed houses.

Monument Types

• HOUSE (Medieval - 1267 AD to 1499 AD?)
• MOAT (MOAT, Medieval to Modern - 1267 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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[TQ 55554657] Moat (NR) (1) A fairly perfect moat remains at Great Barnetts, about half a mile east of Leigh Church. (2) A rectangular, waterfilled homestead moat in good condition. There are causeway entrances on the south (probably original) and west sides. A trench dug across the enclosed area has revealed brick and tile and stone footings. Published survey 1:2500 correct. (3) Excavation in 1966 revealed a large quantity of pottery sherds, provisionally dated as late 13th century and a quantity of other Md minor finds. (4) Leigh, was excavated between 1966 and 1969 following exploration in the early 1960s. Evidence of two medieval timber-framed houses of simultaneous occupation was revealed (see illus). The finds from bothbuildings date the occupation to the late 13th and early 14th centuries, after which the site appears to have been abandoned. The relatively narrow timber-band of occupation and the absence of later extraneous material provide a useful closed series of artifacts. (4-8) Full excavation report and description of finds. (4) (4,5,6,7,8) TQ 556466 Great Barnetts (Moat Farm) Leigh is listed in the county checklist of moated sites in Kent - December 1979. Scheduled. (9-10)

From the National Heritage List for England: Although superficially altered in recent times, the site retains much of its original and slightly unusual form. A rectangular island 60m by 30m is defined by a moat of varying width with protrusions at the SW and NE corners which may have been fishpools. The moat is broadest at the southern arm, the likely position of the original entrance causeway or bridge. Excavation of about one-third of the moat island from 1966-9 revealed that a hall-house had stood at the north end of the site opposite the entrance, and that a second house had stood on the eastern side. Both buildings date to the late 13th/ early 14th century, from which date the local name of "Bernette" used by the nearby buildings (Great Barnett's), meaning "a place cleared by burning", can be traced too. Moated sites are generally 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, and would have provided a supply of fresh fish for the table. Excluded from the scheduling are the areas of modern alteration on the south-west margin of the moat and the bridges across the moat and their supports.

ASSESSMENT OF IMPORTANCE
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 particular importance of the moated site at Great Barnett's lies in its unusual form. Additionally, archaeological investigation has revealed much information about the original organisation of the central island and about the buildings located there. Since two-thirds of the island remains unexcavated and undisturbed, the site retains considerable potential for the recovery of further archaeological information. (11)

<1> OS 6" 1937-8 (OS Card Reference). SKE48348.

<2> VCH Kent 1 1908 428 (I C Gould) (OS Card Reference). SKE50903.

<3> F1 ASP 28.01.63 (OS Card Reference). SKE42322.

<4> Arch Cant 81 1966 1 (J H Parfitt) (OS Card Reference). SKE35710.

<5> Arch Cant 92 1976 173-201 (J H Parfitt, S E Rigold) (OS Card Reference). SKE36081.

<6> Moated Sites Res Gp Rep 6 1979 47 (OS Card Reference). SKE47267.

<7> Arch Cant 82 1967 xlix (J H Parfitt) (OS Card Reference). SKE35759.

<8> Md Arch 13 1969 269 (S E Rigold) (OS Card Reference). SKE46578.

<9> Arch Cant 83 1968 250-1 (J H Parfitt) (OS Card Reference). SKE35763.

<10> Field report for monument TQ 54 NE 1 - January, 1963 (Bibliographic reference). SKE2713.

<11> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

Sources and further reading

Related records