The Bower moated site

Description

The Bower moated site is a well-preserved example of this type of monument. Subcircular moated sites are relatively uncommon nationally and such sites are thought to date to the early medieval period. Moated sites occupying elevated positions are also unusual and it would appear that for these sites defence was a key element in their construction. The moated island will retain buried evidence of the structures that once stood on the site, which together with the associated artefacts and organic remains, will provide valuable evidence about the occupation and social status of the inhabitants of the site. Organic remains surviving in the buried ground surface beneath the raised interior and deposited within the moat will also provide information about the changes to the local environment and the use of the land before and after the moated site was constructed.
The monument includes the earthwork and buried remains of a medieval moated site located in an area of undulating land and occupying an elevated position, with the ground falling away in all directions. The moat defines a polygonal subcircular island, between 50m and 60m across. The arms of the moat are between 8m and 12m wide. The eastern and northern arms are dry and steep-sided, and are up to 3.3m deep, while much of the southern arm retains water. A later drainage channel extends from the south western corner of the moat and is not included in the scheduling. The western arm has been infilled, but survives as a buried feature. This part of the moat is shown as having been infilled on the earliest large scale Ordnance Survey map, published in 1885. Material excavated during the construction of the moat has been used to raise the surface of the north western part of the island by about 1.8m above the level of the surrounding land. This part of the island is occupied by The Bower, a farmhouse of mainly 18th century date which incorporates an earlier timber-framed building. The original means of access onto the island was via a causeway, about 7m wide, which crosses the northern part of the eastern arm. (Scheduling Report)

Comments

Does this represent the site of Hartall (Eyton)? Regardless the manor of Greet, which clearly had its manor house at Greet Court, near the church, was held for a portion of a knight's fee. The half a hide of Hartall - which seems to have been a widows portion of the manor in 1255 - was distinctly sub-manorial as a holding at that time. It later may have become a yeoman's house for a family taking their name from the site, although, if so, this family do also seem to have been merchants in Ludlow.