Details

The monument is Reaseheath medieval moated homestead. The site includes an
island surrounded on three sides by a dry moat with annexes to the north and
east. The grassy island measures c.55m x 43m and is surrounded on all sides
except the south by a shallow dry moat 10-20m wide x 0.8m maximum depth.
Immediately north of the moat is a grassy annexe c.42m x 19m flanked on its
side by a hollow way up to 20m wide x 1.2m deep. Immediately east of the moat
is a second larger, grassy annexe, measuring some 90m x 60m. Flanking this
annexe is a ditch up to 15m wide x 0.5m deep that is largely dry. All fences
are excluded from the scheduling but the ground beneath them is included.

MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.
It includes a 2 metre boundary around the archaeological features,
considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.

Source: Historic England

Reasons for Scheduling

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 seigneurial 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 monument survives in good condition and remains largely unencumbered by
modern development. Evidence of the medieval homestead that originally
occupied the island will be preserved.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Other
Pagination 5, Darvill, T., MPP Single Monument Class Descriptions - Moats, (1988)
SMR No.1 190/1, Cheshire SMR, Reaseheath Moat, (1988)
Sortie No. CPE UK 1935, RAF, (1947)
To Robinson, K.D. MPPFW, Mr Bishop (Cheshire College of Agriculture), (1991)

Source: Historic England