Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

A small, circular moat, around forty meters in diameter, lies upon level ground, overlooking the Swale estuary to the south and east. It encloses a small circular mound and is in poor condition. Just beyond the circular moat is the modern residence of Sayes Court.

Monument Types

• MANOR HOUSE (Unknown date)
• MOAT (Medieval to Modern - 1100 AD? to 2050 AD)

Full description

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[TR 02266625] Mound [NR] (1) Harty: Homestead Moat: Saye's Court. The nearby circular moat here is probably of early date; the east and south of the islet of Harty (included as a part of Sheppey) lies exposed to the Swale, once the waterway of numerous foes, when anything worth preserving must have needed strong protection. (2) Not a stone is left of Sayes Court, but the moat is preserved in almost its entire length and on the large circular mound within, the fortified mansion must have stood. Just outside the banks of the mound is the modern residence. The first occupant was John de Fiennes, who received it from William the Conqueror. He was followed by the Sayes. (3) TR 02266628. The remains of a small, circular moat, some 40.0m in diameter, lie upon nearby-level ground on a slight ridge, overlooking the Swale estuary to the south and east. The spoil from the ditch has been thrown inwards to form a low mound, at present no more than 1.0m higher than the surrounding ground. The ditch is partially water-filled and is generally in poor condition. There are no internal traces of occupation. The original entrance was probably from the north. Surveyed at 1/2500. (4) Checked and correct. (5) TR 023663. Saye's Court. Listed in the county checklist for moated sites in Kent - December 1979. (TR 02266625) Moat (NR) (7,8) Scheduled No 12866. (9). Additional reference (10) and site photographs (11-18). Private house unable to gain access during coastal survey of 2005 (19)

From the National Heritage List for England:

Details
The monument includes a nearly circular moat and its interior area which formed the site of a moated manor house. The moat, which averages 10m in width, has a maximum diameter of 55m N-S. It would originally have been crossed by a timber bridge, but no evidence of its position is visible. The moated island has been raised by about 1m above the level of the surrounding land and forms a circular area some 30m across. On this platform would have been sited the manor house itself. The surface of the island undulates slightly, suggesting the presence of buried foundations, but no certain traces are visible on the surface. The site is recorded as having been given by William the Conqueror to John de Fiennes soon after the Conquest and subsequently passed into the hands of the Sayes family, after whom the manor site was named


Reasons for Designation
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 seigniorial 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 moated site at Sayes Court is one of a small number of round rather than square or rectangular moats in the South East. It therefore illustrates some of the diversity of such monuments, and provides the potential for the exploration of the differences between these different forms of moated site. Having been left apparently undisturbed, the monument has considerable archaeological potential, both on the island and in the moat. The importance of the moat is enhanced by the survival of the church to its east which formed part of the original manorial complex (20)

<1> OS 1" 1819 (OS Card Reference). SKE48105.

<2> VCH Kent 1 1908 427 (I Chalkley Gould FSA) (OS Card Reference). SKE50898.

<3> A Saunter Through Kent 28 1934 90-91 (C Igglesden) (OS Card Reference). SKE32896.

<4> F1 CFW 14-AUG-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE42566.

<5> F2 CFW 13-AUG-63 (OS Card Reference). SKE43231.

<6> Moated Sites Res Gp Rep No 6 1979 47 (OS Card Reference). SKE47272.

<7> OS 1:10000 1984 (OS Card Reference). SKE48170.

<8> English Heritage SAMs 29-10-91 (OS Card Reference). SKE41630.

<9> Field report for monument TR 06 NW 1 - August, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE5240.

<10> Field report for monument TR 06 NW 1 - August, 1963 (Bibliographic reference). SKE5241.

<11> 1998, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11429.

<12> 1998, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11428.

<13> 2000, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10421.

<14> 2000, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10348.

<15> 1998, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10204.

<16> 1998, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10180.

<17> 1998, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11430.

<18> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9528.

<19> Wessex Archaeology, 2005, North Kent Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey: Phase ll: Field Assessment Year Two Report (Unpublished document). SWX12323.

<20> English Heritage, Register of Scheduled Monuments (Scheduling record). SKE16191.

Sources and further reading