Woodhouse Field Moat, Kirk Bramwith

Description

A trapezoidal site, 50m north to south, 30m wide at the south end, and 25m wide at the south. Island slightly raised above surrounding ground on its west side, sloping gently down to the east. The eastern arm is much narrower than the others. A little standing water in the moat, but mostly just marshy land. No obvious foundations etc. on island. A molehill near the north end produced a fragment of green glazed medieval pot. Le Patourel suggests that this site represents either a park lodge or the homestead of a free tenant. May be a lodge in Eshfeld park 'improved' by the Earl of Lancaster and let to 'divers tenants' before 1322.
Note: LM 11/11/2004. At some time after the above account was written the site was levelled for intensive ploughing. Aerial photographs from the 'Cities Revealed' project show the moat, and a prominent channel leading to the River Don. The Portable Antiquities Scheme has recorded pieces of high status medieval enamel depicting a religious theme, recovered from the site. The find would support the suggestion of a thirteenth century date. (South Yorkshire SMR)

Comments

Probably a homestead moat. The name clear suggests a timber building, although that doesn't mean low status. In this area - the floodplain of the River Don - many houses were moated for drainage reasons, although the area also had a reputation, as part of Barnsdale Forest, for outlaws.