Wilton Hall near Pickering

Description

A substantial moated site, together with traces of an outer enclosure and later ridge and furrow. This is one of a number of defended manor houses along the northern edge of the Vale of Pickering. Unusually, the defences at Wilton Hall are very substantial, making this the best preserved moated site in the area. A licence to crenellate was granted to John de Heslerton in 1335. The moat itself is roughly circular, averaging 9m across and 2.4m deep, with an outer bank surviving up to 2m high and 6m wide. The moat survives well on three sides, but on the north side the moat is overbuilt by the modern road. Within the moat stands a level platform with a sub-rectangular shape, measuring roughly 65m by 80m. Traces of masonry protrude from the ground, including some chamfered ashlar. The inner banks of the moat also show traces of buried stone revetments. An excavation in 1975, at the north east corner, revealed evidence of occupation from the 12th century or earlier. The ditch on the north side of the site is of 13th century date and smaller than the ditch on the other three sides, possibly because the village was on this side. The northern defence line appeared to consist of a substantial mortared wall, which was part of a building and gatehouse complex. The inner bank appeared to be of one period, while the outer bank showed two phases. The northern ditch was open until at least the 14th century, and was later filled by the levelling of the second phase of the rampart. Aerial photographs reveal that the moated site was enclosed on at least three sides by a larger, rectangular enclosure, with a ditch running roughly 40m beyond the moated site on its west, south and east sides, with ridge and furrow of 'reversed S' type running up to this from the south. Within the modern field containing the moat, the ridge and furrow terminated at the outer enclosure ditch, but both of these have now been flattened by modern ploughing. However, in the next field to the west, the ridge and furrow continues across the partially-visible ditch and the interior of the enclosure, and both survive as earthworks. This ridge and furrow is straighter and more tightly spaced than that further east, suggesting that this is post-medieval in date. The churchyard wall, hedges and field gates are excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath them is included. In the centre of the roadside section of the moated area is a short length of walling, showing a piece of medieval dressed masonry sandwiched between two lesser pieces of masonry. All of this masonry is included in the scheduling. (Scheduling Report)

Wileton, wher is a manor place with a tower longging to Cholmeley (Leland)