Scheduled Ancient Monument: MOATED SITE IMMEDIATELY NORTH OF ST MARGARET'S GREEN (30548)

The monument includes a moated site situated on level ground alongside a triangular green. The moat encloses the north, west and east sides and the south west and south east angles of a rectangular central platform with internal dimensions of approximately 73m north east-south west by 27m, the surface of which is raised between 0.4m and 0.6m above the prevailing ground level. The western end of the northern arm of the moat is enlarged to a width of up to to 15m, with a short westward projection from the north west corner, and is partly infilled. The remainder of the northern arm, which is water- filled, ranges from 5m to 8m in width. At the south western corner of the moat is the opening of an outlet channel running south westwards alongside the green. It is probable that the moat originally enclosed more of the southern side and has been been partly infilled, but if so, it will survive as a buried feature. A hollowed track runs from this side across the interior to a narrow causeway which gives access to the interior across the northern arm and is possibly not original. Fragments of pottery of 15th and 16th century date found on the surface of the field immediately to the north of the moat are evidence for occupation of the site during the medieval period. A timber framed house which formerly stood on the western half of the central platform was burnt down in the late 19th century and nothing of it remains visible on the surface. A brick built barn on the south eastern part of the moated island and service poles on the outer margin of the moated site are excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath these features is included.