Portington Moat, Eastrington

Description

Moated site at Manor Farm, Portington. The site dates from the 11th century, and includes a large, raised rectangular platform area with dimensions of 160m north-south by 135m east-west. The platform is surrounded on its four sides by moat ditches. Overall the site has dimensions of 180m north-south by 150m east-west. The 'U' shaped moat ditches range from 7m to 10m wide, across their tops, and are between 1m and 1.75m deep. The ditches are intact and are surrounded by an exterior bank which is up to 8m wide and 1.5m high. There is an original entrance in the centre of the northern moat arm which is 5m wide, and another entrance 10m wide in the opposing side, although this may not be an original feature. Within the raised platform area to the south west, there are the remains of two interior moat channels which nearly meet at right angles. The channel leading due north from the main southern moat arm is interpreted as a fish pond, and measures about 50m in length, by 10m in width, and is up to 1.5m deep. The second channel is at right angles to the western moat arm, and measures about 75m long, 6m-8m wide and 0.5m deep. Modern farm buildings lie at the point where the two interior channels may once have met. On the eastern side of the moat island there now stands a farmhouse dating to the 18th and 19th centuries. The farmhouse, which is excluded from the scheduling (although the ground beneath it is included), is situated close to the original entrance to the moat island at the centre of the northern moat arm. Although the fabric of this building includes both Georgian and Victorian features, it was apparently built upon earlier foundations, possibly dating to the 16th century. This farmhouse is associated with other farm buildings which occupy parts of the raised central island area, and was once designated a 'Model Farm'. Originally the site was connected with the Manor House, Portington, the residence of the Portington family for 400 years and who gave their name to the village here. Sir John Portington was a justice of the King's Bench in the first half of the 15th century. His son Thomas held several ecclesiastical appointments including the provostry of Beverley. (Scheduling Report)