MONUMENT NO. 374302

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A medieval moated site located in the south west part of Paddock Wood, 560 metres north east of Chesterford Park. A central ditch dissects the island and is thought to be a later feature. The moat is of an irregular shape and the arms are partly waterlogged. Excavations which took place in 1970 and 1977 investigated the theory that this was the site of a castle built by the Earl of Gloucester sometime after 1257. During the excavations, part of a stone wall was uncovered along with metalwork finds which included a knife blade and pottery dating from the Saxon and Norman period to the 13th or 14th centuries.

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Homestead moat of irregular form in Paddock Wood. The uneven surface of the enclosed area suggests the existence of foundations. (1)

TL 537 429: Moat (NR) (2)

The moat is in process of excavation by the Chesterford Park
Archaeological Society. Finds to date include remains of a "crude stone wall" within the moated area, identified as part of the "main structure", thousands of medieval pottery fragments including early green-glazed ware, metal objects (nails, horseshoes etc) and three pieces of "ornate bronze with gilt overlay" (awaiting British Museum classification).

Documentary research indicates that from the Domesday survey to about 1600, the surrounding lands were within the manor of
Manhall, and it is thought that the manor house was in the Emanuel Wood - Four Acre Grove area (centred TL 531 416) where a large spread of medieval pottery fragments and rubble has been found covering an area of about 1/4 mile square. (See TL 54 SW 26)

In 1257 Richard Earl of Gloucester was granted a licence to build a castle on his land at Manhall and the excavators believe that the castle may have been at the site being examined in Paddock Wood. (3)

In Paddock Wood there is an irregular, part water-filled homestead moat fed by surface drainage and measuring overall
68 metres east to west by 64 metres north to south, with arms averaging 8 metres wide by 1.5 metres deep. A central ditch partly bisects the site, but this is thought to be later than the moat. (a)

Excavations carried out by the Chesterford Park Archaeological Society are still open and the walling of a building is visible at TL 5372 4295.

Published survey (25") revised. (4)

TL 537 429: Excavations continuing. Bronzework, iron objects and pottery of Saxon and Norman to 14th century date have been
recovered. (5-6)

A medieval moated site located in the south west part of Paddock Wood 560 metres northeast of Chesterford Park. A central ditch disects the island and is thought to be a later feature. Excavations which took place in 1970 and 1977 investigated the theory that this was the site of a castle built by Richard, Earl of Gloucester sometime after 1257. During the excavations, part of a crude stone wall was uncovered along with metalwork finds which included a knife blade with a silver damascene initial and pottery dating from the 13th or 14th century. Scheduled. (7)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England) 1916 An inventory of the historical monuments in Essex. Volume I [north west]

1916 1 Page(s)115

( 2) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

OS 6" 1960

( 3) General reference

Miscellaneous Report of Chesterford Park Archaeological Society since 1970 (1973)

( 4a) Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments

( 4) Field Investigators Comments

F1 PAS 04-JAN-1977

( 5) Essex Archaeology and History

1977 (C R Couchman) 9 Page(s)99

( 6) Essex Archaeology and History

1979 illusts (Couchman) 11 Page(s)56-7

(7) Scheduled Monument Notification

EH scheduling revision, 26-FEB-1993

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