Belleau Manor

Description

The moated site and dovecote at Belleau Manor survive well as a series of standing, earthwork and buried remains. The dovecote will contribute to our understanding of the domestic and economic activity of the manorial complex. In addition, waterlogging in the moat will preserve organic remains such as timber, leather and seeds, which will also provide valuable information about domestic and economic activity on the site. Associated with a well-known family and formerly part of a larger manorial complex which was occupied over a long period of time, the site contributes to our understanding of the development of a relatively high status component of the medieval and later landscape.
The monument, which is in two separate areas of protection, includes the medieval moated site and post-medieval dovecote at Belleau Manor. During the 14th and 15th centuries the manor of Belleau was held by the Welles family and subsequently passed to the Willoughby family. The medieval manor house, which formerly occupied the moated site, was said to be the seat of the Lords of Willoughby d'Eresby. This house was replaced in the 16th century by a hall, which following the Civil War belonged to Sir Harry Vane. The remains of the 16th century hall, with 18th and 20th century alterations, stand at the centre of the moated island and are now incorporated into a barn which is a Listed Building Grade II. A late 17th century Manor House with medieval features, thought to have been an extension to the hall, was demolished in 1978 but survives as a buried feature. A 20th century brick-built stable block, at the north edge of the island, includes a 16th century stone arch taken from the former gatehouse of the manor and is also a Listed Building Grade II.
The island is rectangular in plan measuring approximately 140m by 95m and is surrounded by a moat measuring up to 14m in width. The moat is water-filled to the west, south and north east; part of the eastern and northern arms have been infilled but survive as buried features. The western and southern arms carry part of a stream supplied by water from a nearby spring. Water flows in at the north west corner of the moat and out at the south east corner. The southern moat arm and part of the western arm are lined by internal and external banks. The northern moat arm is crossed by an arched brick-built bridge of post-medieval date, which is included in the scheduling. It is thought to stand on or near the site of the original access to the island.
Associated with the manor is an early 16th century brick-built dovecote located approximately 150m to the north of the moated site. The dovecote is a Listed Building Grade 2star. It is single storey and octagonal in plan, measuring approximately 6m in width, and is built in red brick laid in English bond. The dovecote has a facetted slate roof with a boarded lantern at the roof apex with holes allowing the birds access and egress. There is a low doorway with a pointed arch giving access at ground level on the south eastern side of the building. Two arched windows, toward the top of the structure, in the southern and western walls, face the approach to the moated site and are thought to be ornamental. Internally there are square brick nesting boxes arranged in continuous rows, from floor to eaves, around two thirds of the dovecote with a course of projecting bricks providing a ledge for each row of boxes. (Scheduling Report)