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Monument details

HER Number:TQ 97 SW 2
Type of record:Monument
Name:Medieval homstead moat site, Queenborough, Swale

Summary

A medieval moated homestead, east of Queenborough Castle.

Grid Reference:TQ 9145 7219
Map Sheet:TQ97SW
Parish:QUEENBOROUGH, SWALE, KENT

Monument Types

  • MOAT (date unknown, Medieval - 1350 AD? to 1539 AD)

Associated Finds

  • SHERD (Medieval - 1300 AD to 1400 AD)

Full description

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[TQ 9145 7219] MOAT [NR] (1) There is a homestead moat at Queenborough, 500 ft. east of the castle. [TQ 97 S.W.1] (2) Situated on the edge of the marshes this irregular-shaped enclosure comprises a slight inner bank with an outer ditch. It has been super-imposed upon an old counter wall running to the NW. To the S is a rectangular depression, now dry, possibly a pond. This is not a homestead moat, and its date and purpose on both doubtful. Published 1/1250 survey revised (3). TQ 914723: Moat, east of Sheppey Castle, listed in the county checklist of moated sites in Kent of December 1979 (4). TQ 914721: Part of the moated site, adjacent to Queenborough Castle was excavated in 1977 by the Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit. An enclosed platform, covering about 1/2 acre, contained a substantial masonry building (5-6). Additional reference (7) and site photographs (8-10).

The site was excavated by the Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit in 1977 ahead of house building. The raised platform and moat were sub oval and 38m x 25m, with the moat 6-8m wide. A building was found within the enclosure. It consisted of stone built foundations and three or four rooms. A sherd of 14th century pottery was found sealed below the mound. (11)


<1> OS 6" 1961 (OS Card Reference). SKE48369.

<2> VCH Kent, Vol.1, 1908, p.428 (plan p.409) (I.C. Gould) (OS Card Reference). SKE51236.

<3> F1 ASP 20-AUG-63 (OS Card Reference). SKE42202.

<4> Moated Sites Res Gp Rep 6 1979 47 (ed C J Bond) (OS Card Reference). SKE47269.

<5> Md Arch 22 1978 181 (L Webster & J Cherry) (OS Card Reference). SKE46612.

<6> KAR 51 10 1978 (OS Card Reference). SKE45357.

<7> Field report for monument TQ 97 SW 2 - August, 1963 (Bibliographic reference). SKE5019.

<8> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9518.

<9> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9571.

<10> 1998, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11299.

<11> Brian Philp, 2013, A medieval moated site at Queenborough, Isle of Sheppey (Article in serial). SKE24835.

Sources and further reading

Cross-ref. Source description
<1>OS Card Reference: OS 6" 1961.
<2>OS Card Reference: VCH Kent, Vol.1, 1908, p.428 (plan p.409) (I.C. Gould).
<3>OS Card Reference: F1 ASP 20-AUG-63.
<4>OS Card Reference: Moated Sites Res Gp Rep 6 1979 47 (ed C J Bond).
<5>OS Card Reference: Md Arch 22 1978 181 (L Webster & J Cherry).
<6>OS Card Reference: KAR 51 10 1978.
<7>Bibliographic reference: Field report for monument TQ 97 SW 2 - August, 1963.
<8>Photograph (Print): 1946. Photograph. 3141. print.
<9>Photograph (Print): 1946. Photograph. 4060. print.
<10>Photograph (Print): 1998. Photograph. TQ9172/1. print.
<11>XYArticle in serial: Brian Philp. 2013. A medieval moated site at Queenborough, Isle of Sheppey. Kent Archaeological Review 192: 72-78. [Mapped feature: #36855 earthwork, ]