TQ 77 SE 24 - Medieval moat site, near Abbot's Court, Hoo St. Werburgh

It should not be assumed that this site is publicly accessible and it may be on private property. Do not trespass.

Monument record TQ 77 SE 24 - Medieval moat site, near Abbot's Court, Hoo St. Werburgh

Summary

The remains of a moat were first identified from an aerial photograph taken in 1950. The site was subsequently surveyed the following year; the earthworks had an entrance from the north and covered an area of c.3000 square metres. The site was excavated under the threat of gravel digging in 1963; there was some occupation evidence but no building reamins were found. The precise dating of the moat remained uncertain; it may either be contemporary with a sea wall built in the 13th century, or with stone footings from a 15th century timber building.

Location

Grid reference	TQ 793 720 (point) FCE
Map sheet	TQ77SE
County	KENT
Civil Parish	HOO ST WERBURGH, MEDWAY, KENT
Unitary Authority	MEDWAY

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Type and Period (2)

Full Description

[TQ 794 720] A roughly square earthwork was first discovered by aerialphotography in 1950 and with the permission of the owner was surveyed by W. G. Gitshaw for J. H. Evans, F.S.A., in 1951. The survey indicates the earthwork to be about 0.75 acres in area, with rounded corners. It is aligned N.-S. and E.-W. and the only entrance is from the north. In 1963 a limited rescue excavation was undertaken by the Lower Medway Archaeological Rescue Group in advance of gravel digging. Their findings indicate that after the errection of a sea wall in the 13th century there was some occupation of this site but no building remains were found. The moat might belong to this period or it might be contemporary with the 15th century stone footings of a timber building which lasted until the 17th century after which the site was no longer used. (1)(2) General listing in the gazetteer. (3) Abbot's Court is listed in the County Checklist of moated sites in Kent. (4) General listing (5). Additional references (6,7) and site photographs (8-12),The site lies about 270 metres from the present sea wall, and a curvilinear bank on the seaward side of the moat was interpreted by the excavator as an earlier sea wall dating to the thirteenth century. This possible sea wall has been recorded separately (Monument 1547411). Archive material (12)

<1> Arch Cant 64 1951 156-8 plan (JH Evans) (OS Card Reference). SKE35376.

<2> Ibid 78 1963 165-9 (RC Harrison and ER Swain) (OS Card Reference). SKE44194.

<3> Arch Cant 93 1977 221 (T Tatton-Brown) (OS Card Reference). SKE36146.

<4> Moated Sites Res Grp 6 1979 46 (Ed CJ Bond) (OS Card Reference). SKE47283.

<5> CBA Res Rep 17 Md Moated Sites 1978 39 (FA Aberg) (OS Card Reference). SKE38793.

<6> Ordnance Survey: Portfolios (Collection). SKE6541.

<7> Anon, 1951, Reasearches and Discoveries in Kent, 1950, p.156-8 (Article in serial). SWX7847.

<8> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9512.

<9> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9563.

<10> 1947, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9839.

<11> 1947, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9869.

<12> Historic England, Archive material associated with Abbotts Court, Hoo St Werburg (Archive). SKE54128.

<12> 2000, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10332.

Sources/Archives (13)

<1>XY SKE35376 OS Card Reference: Arch Cant 64 1951 156-8 plan (JH Evans). [Mapped feature: #25902 moat, ]
<2> SKE44194 OS Card Reference: Ibid 78 1963 165-9 (RC Harrison and ER Swain).
<3> SKE36146 OS Card Reference: Arch Cant 93 1977 221 (T Tatton-Brown).
<4> SKE47283 OS Card Reference: Moated Sites Res Grp 6 1979 46 (Ed CJ Bond).
<5> SKE38793 OS Card Reference: CBA Res Rep 17 Md Moated Sites 1978 39 (FA Aberg).
<6> SKE6541 Collection: Ordnance Survey: Portfolios.
<7> SWX7847 Article in serial: Anon. 1951. Reasearches and Discoveries in Kent, 1950. p.156-8.
<8> SWX9512 Photograph (Print): 1946. Photograph. 3123. print.
<9> SWX9563 Photograph (Print): 1946. Photograph. 4042. print.
<10> SWX9839 Photograph (Print): 1947. Photograph. 3076. print.
<11> SWX9869 Photograph (Print): 1947. Photograph. 4096. print.
<12> SKE54128 Archive: Historic England. Archive material associated with Abbotts Court, Hoo St Werburg.
<12> SWX10332 Photograph (Print): 2000. Photograph. 129. print.

Finds (1)

ARCHITECTURAL FRAGMENT (Undated)

Protected Status/Designation

None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (2)

Intrusive Event: ABBOT'S COURT (Ref: EI 15588) (EKE4380)
Non-Intrusive Event: Field survey of an earthwork near Hoo St. Werbergh (EWX6539)

Record last edited

Aug 17 2021 4:13PM