Moated site

The National Monuments Service's description

On a SE-facing slope on wet land in upland area with higher ground NW and good views to E and S. Field to NW and NE have been drained and reclaimed while the fields to SE and SW have not been reclaimed and are wet marshy fields. Ringbarrow (TS049-020----) located 700m to the SW. Moated site consists of a square-shaped area (dims. 50m NW-SE; 48m SW-NE) enclosed by an earth and stone bank (Top Wth. 2.5-3m; Base Wth. 6m; ext. H. 1.5m; int. H 0.3-0.6m), wet outer moat (base Wth. 2-3m; top Wth. 5m; ext. D 1m) and possible external bank (base Wth 2.3m; top Wth 1.7m; ext. H 0.25m) visible only along SE side of monument. No clear entrance feature visible, gap (Wth 3m) in bank along centre of SE side may just be later gap as there is no evidence of a causeway across the water filled moat. Cattle poaching to external and internal faces of enclosing bank at S , W and N corners of moated site otherwise the moated site is in good condition with furze and thorn bushes growing along top of bank with the interior mainly in grass with the odd thorn bush visible. Hollow depression in centre of monument may be a possible house footings but not quite sure and there are the faintest suggestions of a possible house footings in NW quadrant of interior. Though neither features are strong enough to classify as possible houses they are worthy of note. Interior of moated site is approximately level with the external ground surface and follows the natural slope of the hill face on which it is located no evidence has been made to level off the interior. Nearby stream runs past moated site along SW side on a SW-SE axis.

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 26 August 2011