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Monument details

HER Number:TR 04 NW 6
Type of record:Monument
Name:Homestead moat (site of), north of Park Barn Farm, Boughton Aluph

Summary

The remains of a homestead moat are located in fields to the north of Park Barn Farm. The moat is 250m square, about 2m deep and about 10-13m wide and was once considered one of the finest examples of a homestead moat in Kent. The majority of the site was extensively damaged by bulldozing in 1974/5. Following this a rescue recording operation was undertaken by the Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit They found evidence of a bridge and three other buildings as well as a dupondius of Marcus Aurelius. Most of the features recorded at the site were dated to the 13th and 16th centuries although very few finds were noted. The moat was originally designated as a scheduled ancient monument in 1962, but was descheduled in August 1990.


Grid Reference:TR 0306 4641
Map Sheet:TR04NW
Parish:BOUGHTON ALUPH, ASHFORD, KENT

Monument Types

  • MOAT (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1200 AD to 1900 AD)

Associated Finds

  • COIN (Roman - 161 AD to 180 AD)
Protected Status:Selected Heritage Inventory for Natural England: Medieval moated site at Wilmington Manor, square in plan with the moat 2 metres deep, 10-13 metres wide, with the remains of a bridge and three buildings, occupied from C13-C16. Roman coin of Marcus Aurelius also found.

Full description

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(TR 03064641) Moat (NR) (1) There is a homestead moat at Wilmington Manor, about 1.5 miles south of Boughton Aluph Church, in a field close to Park Farm. (2,3) A square homestead moat, normally dry, in fair condition. There is much tile and flint over the enclosed area and in the centre of the SE side is a short stretch of flint walling probably the abutments of a bridge. Published 25" Survey revised. (4) This feature has now been filled in. (5) TR 03064641. One of the finest moated sites in Kent, at Wilmington Manor, Boughton Aluph, a scheduled Ancient Monument since 1962, was extensively damaged by bulldozer operations in December 1974 and January 1975. Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit carried out rapid recording on the 20th December to show the extent of the damage and toprovide a brief survey of what had been revealed (see plan). Although no excavation was carried out a minimum of four major structures, two at least substantial buildings, were located. The probable abutments on the east side almost certainly mark the site of a substantial wooden bridge. About 30 metres of curtain wall on the east and south sides could indicate that most or even all of the central area had been enclosed. It seems likely that most of the structures recorded fall within the 13th-15th centuries. Apart from building debris no finds were revealed although J. Bradshaw repsorts finding a duponduis of Marcus Aureluis (AD 161-180) on the site. (6) TR 03064641. Broughton Aluph, Wilmington. Listed as a moated site by the Moated Sites Research Group in a checklist of moated sites in Kent- December 1979 (7,8). TR 030603, Moated site north of Park Barn Farm (wrong grid reference, it should read TR 030464) (9). TR 03064641 (8). A square moated site, enclosing an area either 250m square, which is much overgrown and has no visible features. The moat, which measures about 2m deep and about 10-13m wide (7), is partly wet. There is evidence of a bridge and three other buildings, all of solid ashlar. Following the bulldozing of the site in late 1974 and early 1975 a survey was undertaken by the Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit. This traced the moat on all four sides, the bridge abutment, a curtain wall four possible structures and areas of roof tile. A dupondius of Marcus Aurelius was also found. Roughly two thirds of the platform area was affected by the bulldozer and all the deposits and structures have been severely damaged. Most of the sites features seem likely to fall between the 13th and 16th centuries. Scheduled (7). (7-12) Descheduled August 1990


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

<2> VCH Kent 1 1908 426 plan (I C Gould) (OS Card Reference). SKE50897.

<3> A Saunter through Kent 25 1931 66 (C Igglesdon) (OS Card Reference). SKE32885.

<4> F1 ASP 09-MAY-1965 (OS Card Reference). SKE42018.

<5> C K Theobald L/S Rev 14-01-75 (OS Card Reference). SKE38455.

<6> Kent Arch Rev 40 1975 290-5 plan (B Philp) (OS Card Reference). SKE45778.

<7> Moated Sites Res Gp 6 1979 47 (OS Card Reference). SKE47254.

<8> Arch Cant 93 1977 220 (OS Card Reference). SKE36140.

<9> DOE (IAM) AMs Eng 2 1978 113 (OS Card Reference). SKE40690.

<10> DOE (IAM) Record Form plan 16-12-74 (OS Card Reference). SKE40761.

<11> Kent Arch Rev 40 1975 290-295 Illus (OS Card Reference). SKE45777.

<12> Md Arch 19 1975 251 (OS Card Reference). SKE46590.

<13> Moated Site R G Jun 1979 46 (OS Card Reference). SKE47231.

<14> Field report for monument TR 04 NW 6 - May, 1963 (Bibliographic reference). SKE5150.

<15> Field report for monument TR 04 NW 6 - May, 1965 (Bibliographic reference). SKE5151.

Sources and further reading

Cross-ref. Source description
<1>OS Card Reference: OS 6" 1961.
<2>OS Card Reference: VCH Kent 1 1908 426 plan (I C Gould).
<3>OS Card Reference: A Saunter through Kent 25 1931 66 (C Igglesdon).
<4>OS Card Reference: F1 ASP 09-MAY-1965.
<5>OS Card Reference: C K Theobald L/S Rev 14-01-75.
<6>OS Card Reference: Kent Arch Rev 40 1975 290-5 plan (B Philp).
<7>OS Card Reference: Moated Sites Res Gp 6 1979 47.
<8>XYOS Card Reference: Arch Cant 93 1977 220. [Mapped feature: #39089 moated site, ]
<9>OS Card Reference: DOE (IAM) AMs Eng 2 1978 113.
<10>OS Card Reference: DOE (IAM) Record Form plan 16-12-74.
<11>OS Card Reference: Kent Arch Rev 40 1975 290-295 Illus.
<12>OS Card Reference: Md Arch 19 1975 251.
<13>OS Card Reference: Moated Site R G Jun 1979 46.
<14>Bibliographic reference: Field report for monument TR 04 NW 6 - May, 1963.
<15>Bibliographic reference: Field report for monument TR 04 NW 6 - May, 1965.