St Lois

Description

Moated site at St Lois Farm. It includes a large sub-rectangular moated site enclosed by a waterlogged moat. The island enclosed by the main moat is subdivided by a ditch, now dry, which runs north-south. The area of the island to the west of this ditch measures 30m north-south by 20m east-west; the area to the east, which is slightly larger and more irregularly shaped, measures 50m north-south by 35m east-west. The dividing ditch is 20m deep and 7m wide. The moat which enclosed the island has been in-filled at the south-east corner of the monument, probably when the adjacent farm complex was constructed in this area. Elsewhere it remains visible as an earthwork and is between 7m and 10m wide and up to 20m deep. A pond has been cut into south-east corner of the monument just north of the farmyard. This feature is considered to be of medieval origin but has been expanded and has disturbed part of the island and moat here. Earthen banks survive immediately outside the western and northern arms of the moat; they are between 0.3m and 0.5m high and 5m wide. The monument was owned in the Middle Ages by the Percy family who were Earls of Northumberland. A licence to crenellate was granted for the site in 1293, allowing Percy to fortify it. Building debris has been found on the eastern island, indicating the presence of structural remains here. (Scheduling Report)

The manor-house was probably mentioned, as 'le maners' in the park, in 1309. It was certainly recorded in 1368. The park had been mentioned as early as 1280 and ground south of the manor-house is still called the Park. It may have been in the manor-house, moreover, that the chapel was located where Aubrey, widow of Robert de Percy, was licensed to have a chaplain in 1232. In 1314 Aubrey, daughter of Robert de Percy, was granted an oratory in the manor-house. (VCH)