| Summary : A medieval moated site with associated garden remains 550 metres north of Manor Farm. The moated site is known to have been the location of Bratoft Hall, a medieval house built by the Markham family who owned the site between 1409 and 1538. The house subsequently passed through marriage to the Massingberds, who in 1698 had Bratoft Hall demolished and moved to a new house at Gunby. The remains include the earthworks of a raised moated platform where the buried remains of the medieval house are located. The moat is partly water-filled, up to 5 metres in width and 2 metres in depth and defines a rectilinear area 90 metres by 105 metres. A parallel series of banks and ditches running on an ENE-WSW axis north of the moat are considered to represent contemporary formal garden remains associated with the hall. The garden remains overlie earlier traces of ridge and furrow which is visible as faint linear undulations. An undisturbed continuation of this ridge and furrow is visible in an area approximately 7 metres by 125 metres between the northern edge of the formal garden remains and the modern field boundary. A linear depression up to 2 metres in width and 0.6 metres in depth running for 45 metres on a NNW-SSW axis from the field boundary into the north western corner of the moat is considered to represent the remains of a contemporary water control feature in the form of a drainage channel. In 1966 sherds of post-medieval green glaze pottery, Siegburg stoneware and stamped tiles were recovered from the site. A small bone figurine dated stylistically to 1340-80 was found nearby, indicative of activity in the vicinity during the 14th century before the hall was built. Scheduled. |
More information : [Area TF 4721 6546] Bratoft Hall [NR] (Site of) (NAT). (1)
Seat of the Markham family from 1409 to 1538, then of the
Massingberds. Dismantled in 1698. The broad moat with a bridge of
two arched remains. (2-4)
In 1495 Sit Thomas Massingberd married Joan Bratoft of Bratoft Hall.
(5)
There are no surface indications of the former hall. Published
survey (25") of moat correct. The 'bridge' is now only an earth and
rubble causeway. (6)
(TF 47216546) Moat (NR). (7)
Bratoft Hall was demolished in 1698 by the Massingberd family who
built Gunby Hall nearby in 1700. Very little is known about the site
but its good condition and many associated features make it both
important and interesting (9). The moat is only wet in winter and the
island was ploughed a number of years ago but is now under pasture.
There is a possible enclosure on the north side and ridge and furrow
to the east and north. In 1966 a stamped tile and post medieval
pottery were found, and in 1977 finds including local 17th century
wares came from the inner edge of the moat. The field immediately
north of the possible enclosure contains a great density of brick
and tile which Smith attributes to the demolition of the hall,
but as the field has been deep ploughed in teh last 2-3 years it is
not possible to be more positive.
To the east of the moat Smith notes possible fishponds on her
map (see illust). (8-9)
The Medieval moat and fishponds, referred to by the previous
authorities, and other possible associated features, were seen as
earthworks and mapped from good quality air photographs. The moat
encloses a subrectangular area, measuring 90m by 80m, centred at
TF 4721 6546. The bridge referred to by authorities 1-6 is in the
east side of the moat. Within the moat is a rectilinear ditched
enclosure, measuring 15m by 15m, and a possible pond, measuring 35m
by 10m. Perpendicular ditched boundaries, up to 140m long, are
adjacent to the west side of the moat. Fragments of ditched
enclosures are visible, to the east of the moat, centred at TF 4739
6549. Within these are two possible fishponds, as noted by
authorities 8-9. These measure 70m by 20m and 30m by 10m
respectively. The ridge and furrow referred to by authorities 8-9
has been ploughed. More Medieval boundaries, settlement, another
moat and various other features are visible to the south (see TF 46
NE 16) and these are probably related to the features described
above. (Morph No. LI.392.1.1-3)
This description is based on data from the RCHME MORPH2 database.
(10) |