| Summary : Medieval moated site at Wilmington Manor, square in plan with the moat 2 metres deep, 10-13 metres wide, with the remains of a bridge and three buildings, occupied from 13th-16th century. The site encloses an area 250m square, which is much overgrown and has no visible features. Bulldozing of the site in December 1974 caused severe damage to all the deposits and structures. The rapid archaeological survey carried out following the destruction also discovered a Roman coin of Marcus Aurelius. Now descheduled. |
More information : (TR 03064641) Moat (NR) (1)
There is a homestead moat at Wilmington Manor, about 1.5 miles south of Boughton Aluph Church, in a field close to Park Farm. (2,3)
A square homestead moat, normally dry, in fair condition. There is much tile and flint over the enclosed area and in the centre of the SE side is a short stretch of flint walling probably the abutments of a bridge. Published 25" Survey revised. (4)
This feature has now been filled in. (5)
TR 03064641. One of the finest moated sites in Kent, at Wilmington Manor, Boughton Aluph, a scheduled Ancient Monument since 1962, was extensively damaged by bulldozer operations in December 1974 and January 1975. Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit carried out rapid recording on the 20th December to show the extent of the damage and to provide a brief survey of what had been revealed (see plan). Although no excavation was carried out a minimum of four major structures, two at least substantial buildings, were located. The probable abutments on the east side almost certainly mark the site of a substantial wooden bridge. About 30 metres of curtain wall on the east and south sides could indicate that most or even all of the central area had been enclosed. It seems likely that most of the structures recorded fall within the 13th-15th centuries. Apart from building debris no finds were revealed although J. Bradshaw reports finding a duponduis of Marcus Aureluis (AD 161-180) on the site. (6)
TR 03064641. Broughton Aluph, Wilmington. Listed as a moated site by the Moated Sites Research Group in a checklist of moated sites in Kent- December 1979 (7,8).
TR 030603, Moated site north of Park Barn Farm (wrong grid reference, it should read TR 030464) (9).
TR 03064641 (8). A square moated site, enclosing an area either 250m square, which is much overgrown and has no visible features. The moat, which measures about 2m deep and about 10-13m wide (7), is partly wet. There is evidence of a bridge and three other buildings, all of solid ashlar. Following the bulldozing of the site in late 1974 and early 1975 a
survey was undertaken by the Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit. This traced the moat on all four sides, the bridge abutment, a curtain wall four possible structures and areas of roof tile. A dupondius of Marcus Aurelius was also found. Roughly two thirds of the platform area was affected by the bulldozer and all the deposits and structures have been severely damaged.
Most of the sites features seem likely to fall between the 13th and 16th centuries. Scheduled (7). (7-12)
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