Setterah Park

Description

Despite some erosion the moated site and annexe east of Setterahpark Wood survives reasonably well. The monument remains unencumbered by modern development and will retain evidence for the buildings that originally occupied the island. The monument is a rare example in Cumbria of a moated site associated with a medieval deer park.
The monument is a moated site and an associated annexe situated in the valley of the River Lowther east of Setterahpark Wood. It includes a raised island of rhomboidal shape, measuring c.84m by 60m, with traces of an inner bank up to 3m wide and 0.5m high on its western side. Surrounding the island is a dry moat 9-13m wide that is flanked on all sides except the north by an outer bank up to 8m wide and 1m high. Access to the island is provided by a rough stone causeway across the moat's southern arm close to the south-west corner. A narrow dry ditch 1m wide and 0.7m deep separates the outer bank from a raised annexe up to c.45m in width located adjacent to the moat's eastern side. A narrow ditch and low outer bank 2.5m in total width flank the annexe's southern side. At the moat's north-east corner is a seasonally wet well. The monument is thought to be associated with a deerpark recorded in documentary sources of 1290 as being at Robert L'Engley's Setterah Park. (Scheduling Report)

Earthwork, probably homestead moat, nearly 1 m. S. of the church, consists of a dry ditch enclosing an area of rhomboidal form, with traces of an outer bank on the W., S. and E. sides. On the S.E. side is a ramped entrance, turning at right angles and with a rough stone paving, traces of which remain also in the ditch. There is a small causeway on the W. side near the S. angle. There are traces of terraces to the E. of the earthwork. The work is called Roman Camp on the O.S.
Condition—Fairly good. (RCHME 1936)

Comments

Large moat in Deer Park. This does seem to be more than a keeper's moat.