Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Medieval moated manor house and fishponds constructed late 13th-early 14th century by Sir William de Rumpstead, demolished by 1557.

Monument Types

• FISHPOND (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1267 AD to 1557 AD)
• HOUSE (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1267 AD to 1557 AD)
• MOAT (MOAT, Medieval - 1307 AD to 1539 AD)

Full description

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[TQ 5521 5188] Moat [NR] (1) N.E. of St. Julien's Farm, formerly Rumsted Farm, is a well preserved rectangular homestead moat. The S. arm and part of the W. arm are waterfilled. No traces of a building were noted within the enclosed area. On the N. side is a small fishpond and in a pasture field on the N.W. side are the ploughed down remains of a second. Close by are three platforms, probably the sites of buildings. Hased (a) lists Rumsted as an estate only. Published 1:2500 survey revised. (2) [TQ 552 518] St. Julien's Farm. Listed in the County Checklist of moated sites in Kent - December 1979. (3) R.C.H.M.E.- Earthwork survey, 1995. (6) Additional Bibliography (5)

Desk based assessment for pipeline from Feb. 2008, including a walkover field survey 01/02/2008. (8)

The moat encloses a platform measuring 32m east-west by 36m north-south, an area of 1150 m2 (0.11ha). The platform is level without any traces of buildings but there are slight sub-rectangular mounds in each of the four corners. The moat is between 7m and 10m across and silted to varying depths. The manor, which presumably occupied the site, is first recorded in 1254-5 but no mention is made of the moat itself as late as 1279. A late 18th century reference to the site as a 'castellated mansion' in the reign of Edward I suggests it was in existence by 1307. By the end of the 16th century, the land is recorded as consisting of a 'dry moat, two orchards, two gardens and three pieces of lands called the pondes'. This indicates that the moat and fishponds has fallen into disuse and that any buildings had been demolished (6).

A more detailled look into the orgins of the name of the mANor and its family can be read in this report. (9)

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

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

<2> Hist of Kent III 1797 88-90 (E Hasted) (OS Card Reference). SKE44009.

<3> F1 ASP 28-AUG-64 (OS Card Reference). SKE42331.

<4> Moated Sites Research Gp Report No 6 1979 47 (OS Card Reference). SKE47294.

<5> Field report for monument TQ 55 SE 21 - August, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE2848.

<6> Not applicable, SMR Kent uncatalogued index entry, A moated site at Romshed Farm- an earthwork survey by R.C.H.M.E. 1995 (Miscellaneous Material). SKE6440.

<6> RCHME, 1995, A Moated Site at Romshed Farm, near Underriver, Kent: An Earthwork Survey by Otford and District Archaeological Group and The Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England (Unpublished document). SKE16773.

<7> Not applicable, SMR Kent uncatalogued index entry, Collection of doc. evidence on Romshed Manor, Underriver. Collected by A. Oswald, 1994. (Miscellaneous Material). SKE6440.

<8> J.E. Jacobs, 2008, Riverhill to Kilnwood Mains Renewal: Cultural Heritage Desk Based Assessment (Unpublished document). SKE15614.

<9> Otford and District Archaeological Group, 1994, Documentary Evidence on Romshed Manor, Underriver, Sevenoaks Collected by Alistair Oswald and the Otford District Archaeological Group 1994 (Unpublished document). SKE17122.

Sources and further reading

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