Wardley Hall

Description

The moated medieval manor of Wardley, situated to the north of South Wardley Farm. To the north of the farm the visible remains include an enclosure defined by a bank and moat, and ridge and furrow. There are also visible remains to the north of the Bowes Railway which include a section of the moat. The remainder of the monument survives beneath the Bowes Railway trackbed and by a vehicle dismantling compound incorporating old coal waste tips. The earthworks north of the farm are of at least two phases. The first phase is associated with the medieval enclosure and the second later phase features relate to the site for dumping refuse. The moat, in the west corner of the field north of the farm, has an internal and external bank 0.5 metres high. The external bank can be seen on the south and east sides of the enclosure. The internal bank can be seen on its south side. On the east side and in parts of the south side of the enclosure accumulated 19th century refuse stands 1 metre higher than the surrounding surface and infills the moat area. To the north of the field the monument is overlain by the railway and vehicle dismantling compound. A watching brief of foundation trenches in 1995 recorded medieval deposits at 20cm depth from the surface of the vehicle dismantling compound. The first reference to the manor of Wardley was in 1264 when Prior Hugh de Derlington erected a camera, hall and chapel, which was destroyed by the Scots. In 1313 it was assigned to William de Tanfield. Medieval accounts note a kitchen, dovecote, bovaria, byre, stable, henhouse, herringhouse, farnia and bridge. (PastScape)

The site is an example of a high status dwelling and administrative nucleus, of a regionally unusual form. The medieval accounts indicate that it may also have supplied fish and agricultural produce to Durham Priory. The infilled ditches and fishponds will retain important environmental information, especially in view of the waterlogged nature of the site.
The monument includes the moated medieval manor of Wardley and related earthworks and deposits, which are situated to the north of South Wardley Farm. Immediately north of the farm visible remains include an enclosure defined by a bank and moat, and ridge and furrow produced by medieval arable cultivation. There are also visible remains to the north of the Bowes Railway which include a section of the moat. The remainder of the monument survives beneath the Bowes Railway trackbed and by a vehicle dismantling compound incorporating old coal waste tips. Survival of archaeological deposits beneath these has been demonstrated and the waterlogged nature of the site indicates good preservation conditions. The visible earthworks immediately north of the farm have been surveyed and are of at least two phases. The first phase is associated with the medieval enclosure and the second later phase features relate to the use of the site for dumping refuse. The original defining boundary is seen in the west corner of the field immediately north of the farm. Here the moat has an internal and external bank, standing 0.5m high. The outer edge of the external bank is about 10m from the moat. The external bank can be seen on the south and east sides of the enclosure. The internal bank can be seen on the south side of the enclosure before it becomes obscured by accumulated 19th century refuse. On the east side and in parts of the south side of the enclosure the accumulated refuse stands 1m higher than the surrounding surface and infills the moat area. The refuse also fills two fishponds, which are depicted on the first edition Ordnance Survey 1:2500 map. To the north of the field the monument is overlain by the Bowes Railway and the vehicle dismantling compound. A watching brief of foundation trenches in 1995 recorded medieval deposits at 20cm depth from the surface of the vehicle dismantling compound. In 1994 to the east of the compound a section of the moat was excavated from the Bowes Railway to its north east corner. This excavation was designed to stop at the surface of the pre-19th century infills, which will be preserved beneath. The manor of Wardley was held by Durham Priory. The first reference to the manor was in 1264 when Prior Hugh de Derlington erected a camera, hall and chapel, which was destroyed by Scots. In 1313 it was assigned to William de Tanfield on his resignation as prior of Durham. Medieval accounts note a kitchen, dovecot, bovaria, byre, stable, henhouse, herringhouse, farina and bridge. References in the 19th century show that it also had fishponds within the moated area. The original extent of the enclosure is reported as 220 yards north west to south east by 150 yards south west to north east, enclosing some six acres and thirty-five perches. The manor has an almost unbroken series of leases into the mid-18th century. The manor was subdivided into five farms in the 18th century and this had certainly been accomplished by 1783. (Scheduling Report)

May have been a Strong House. (King)