Wighton Moat (The Gatehouse Record)

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as;
Whey Curd Farm

In the civil parish of Wighton.
In the historic county of Norfolk.
Modern Authority of Norfolk.
1974 county of Norfolk.
Medieval County of Norfolk.

OS Map Grid Reference: TF94193906
Latitude 52.91375° Longitude 0.88703°

Wighton Moat has been described as a probable Fortified Manor House.

There are earthwork remains.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

Description

A medieval moated enclosure with some flint masonry and incomplete building outlines can be seen. This may be the site of a medieval chapel. A further ditched enclosure to the south and associated medieval fishponds have also been surveyed. (Norfolk HER)

Clearly defined moat, now dry and grassed over on three sides the fourth being a backwater of the Stiffkey. Along east side central island a retaining wall of mortared flint, with a recess, presumably the drawbridge pit mentioned. Above these are foundations of two rooms or towers, one at each side of the drawbridge but western one set back more than the eastern one. No foundations on remainder of island; sherd of green glazed Grimston ware found in molehill, and mollusc shell. (Norfolk HER–ref site visit in 1980)

Medieval moat with ruins of a building posasibly the chapel recorded in 1548 as being half a mile from the church. The moat is 12-15m wide and 1m deep and encloses a platform 40m by 33m. The ruins are constructed of flint and define a building 19m long and 5m wide, standing up to 0.7m heigh. Adjoining the southern arm of the moat is a second enclosed area possibly forming an outer yard or Garden 46m by 40m. There are also depressions which may be the remains of ponds. (PastScape)

Sources of information, references and further reading

National Heritage List for England Scheduled Monument Number 1018017, Legacy Scheduled Monument Number 30535
Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s) 359038.
County Historic Environment Record (or Sites and Monuments Record) number(s) 2051.

Books
- Blomefield, F., 1808, 'North Greehow Hundred: Wighton' An Essay towards a Topographical History of the County of Norfolk Vol. 9 p. 204-9 (tenurial history) online transcription
Periodical Articles
- Cozens-Hardy, B., 1946, 'Chantries in the Duchy of Lancaster in Norfolk 1548' Norfolk Archaeology Vol. 29 p. 206

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The information on this web page may be derived from information compiled by and/or copyright of Historic England, County Historic Environment Records and other individuals and organisations. It may also contain information licensed under the Open Government Licence. All the sources given should be consulted to identify the original copyright holder and permission obtained from them before use of the information on this site for commercial purposes.
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The bibliography owes much to various bibliographies produced by John Kenyon for the Council for British Archaeology, the Castle Studies Group and others.

Suggestions for finding online and/or hard copies of bibliographical sources can be seen at this link.
Minor archaeological investigations, such as watching brief reports, and some other 'grey' literature is most likely to be held by H.E.R.s but is often poorly referenced and is unlikely to be recorded here, or elsewhere, but some suggestions can be found here.

The possible site or monument is represented on maps as a point location. This is a guide only. It should be noted that OS grid references defines an area, not a point location. In practice this means the actual center of the site or monument may often, but not always, be to the North East of the point shown. Locations derived from OS grid references and from latitude longitiude may differ by a small distance.
Further information on mapping and location can be seen at this link.

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