Bentley Moat Hills

Description

Two islands surrounded by a substantial moat and divided by a ditch running north west to south east. The eastern island measures c.70m x 70m and the western c.60m x 60m. The latter has a shallow, marshy depression in its western angle which represents a former fishpond and a low platform in the eastern angle. Grass-covered stone footings run in parallel banks, west to east across the north corner. A causeway crosses the central ditch, linking the two islands, and grass-covered rubble piled nearby is believed to be the remains of a gatehouse. The eastern island has a low bank along the line of the central ditch, suggesting a revetment wall which may also have continued round the north side, though here the bank does not survive so well. As on the western island, low banks of grass-covered stone run parallel west to east and a substantial E-shaped earthwork, with traces of a bank closing one section, exists in the east corner, indicating building foundations measuring c.30m x 25m. The moat is partially water-filled to the north, west and east but is largely buried beneath a tip to the south. Channels coming into the moat from the north west and east are inlet and outlet ditches. Earthworks within the northernmost of these, close to its confluence with the moat, are interpreted as the position of a dam or sluice. (Scheduling Report)

Comments

Clark records a 'moot hill' at Bentley. This is, presumably, a reference to this 'moat hill'. He also records "Arney.– A moot hill, near Doncaster" This article has a number of idiosyncratic spellings (How good was Clark's handwritting?). There is no Arney place-name but Gatehouse suspects this is Arksey so a duplicate listing or a reference to Arksey Round-About Moat (SE577072) a rectangular homestead moat.
Interestingly the Lidar image shows a very motte like mound in the grounds of Bentley primary school at SE56550542. This is, apparently, a modern feature.