Greystokes Hallsteads moat

Description

Hallsteads moated site survives reasonably well, its earthworks remaining well preserved. It is unencumbered by modern development and will retain evidence for the building that originally occupied the island and which is visible in an aerial photograph of the monument.
The monument includes Hallsteads medieval moated site. It is located on relatively flat land to the east of Gillcambom Beck and includes an island surrounded by a dry moat which is flanked by an outer bank. The island measures c.24m east-west by 30m north-south and has an inner bank up to 2m wide by 0.3m high on all sides except the west. Surrounding the island is a dry moat which measures 5m-8m wide by 1m deep. The moat is flanked on all sides except the four corners by an outer bank measuring 5m-8m wide by 0.5m high. Access to the island is gained via a causeway situated at the north east corner. An aerial photograph shows faint traces of a rectangular feature interpreted as the buried remains of a building at the south west corner of the island. (Scheduling Report)

Hallsteads. Ancient Earthwork(OS map record).
A moated enclosure in fair condition; no internal remains (F1 BHP 10-JUN-71).
A small moated enclosure, the platform measuring about 25-30m square. It is surrounded by a wide shallow ditch, the material from it placed mainly in four separate counterscarp banks and partly in slight 40cm high banks around the edge of the platform. The interior is hummocky, but it is not possible to identify individual buildings. Aerial photographs suggest the presence of a building adjacent to the west side of the platform. There is a causeway across the ditch at the north east angle (DOE (IAM) Record Form May 1978).
NY 39303431 Hallsteads moated site, an island surrounded by dry moat which is flanked by an outer bank. The island measures c24m east-west and 30m north-south and has an inner bank up to 2m wide and 0.3m high on all sides except the west. Surrounding the island is a dry moat which measures 5m-8m wide by 1m deep. The outer bank flanks the moat on all sides except the corners and is 5m-8m wide by 0.5m high. A building on the island is visible on an aerial photograph; scheduled (English Heritage SAM Amendment 15.2.95).
The moat as described still survives as earthworks on air photographs taken in 1998. Their was no evidence of a building on any of the air photographs available for this survey (Oblique aerial photograph reference number NMR NY 3934/2 (GBJ 13478) 01-JAN-1975) (PastScape)

Comments

Was this a homestead moat of a small farmstead or something a bit more high status? In an area of rough pasture but does seem to be within the bounds of Greystoke Castle's Deer Park. A hunting lodge or a park keepers lodge seems most likely.