NHER 62915 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Site of probable medieval moat and associated enclosure

August 2012. Air Photo Interpretation.
Cropmarks on an aerial photograph from 2006 (S1) show a sub square ditched enclosure up to 88 m x 78 m within a larger rectangular enclosure (160 m across, length unclear) on the same alignment. Given its location c. 240 m south of Giants Moat (NHER 3137) and its similar dimensions it is likely that this is a moat, possibly preceding Giants Moat or existing in tandem. The cropmark of St Mary's Chapel (NHER 57957) is notably located between the two.

It is however possible that the enclosure is of Iron Age / Roman or Saxon date. Its morphology is similar to other identified Iron Age / Roman enclosures and a number of Roman finds have been discovered here. However the ditches are probably too wide (c. 9 m) for this to be the case. The enclosure is also similar to a number of D-shaped features thought to be Saxon in date and a small assemblage of Saxon finds have also been reported from this field. It is possible therefore that this is a predecessor to Giants Moat with Saxon origins. There is some evidence for either an earlier enclosure or annexes around the possible moat which may support the idea of consecutive manor sites.

The larger enclosure is less clear and corresponds to field boundaries on both the First Edition Ordnance Survey map (S2) and the Tithe map (S3) however it is on the same alignment as the possible moat and appears to extend towards Giants Moat. The ditches are very substantial and appear to have an earlier origin.

A dark patch to the immediate west of the smaller enclosure is marked as pond on the First Edition Ordnance Survey map (S2). Other cropmarks are visible within the field including post-medieval field boundaries and possible drainage channels.
K. Powell (HES), 3 August 2012.

These cropmarks were previously recorded under NHER 3150.
H. Hamilton (HES), 3 July 2018.