More information : (SJ 4721 6106). Hatton Hall (NAT) Moat (NR) (1)
The original Hatton Hall in 1820 appears to have been
quadrangular, surrounded by a moat. Not more than a quarter of
the building was then standing and was of the half-timbered type.
A drawbridge led to a lofty gateway, opening to the court within.
Over a door in the quadrangle was the date 1597. Since circa
1878 the remains of the hall have given place to a modern
farmhouse erected on the same site. (2)
Hatton Hall - early 16th century. (3)
See GP A0/59/86/5. Surveyed at 25". (4)
Hatton Hall has a modern appearance. The moat is largely water-
filled and is correctly shown on published 25". (5)
Hatton Hall is not outstanding, being of late construction. There
are no traces of the earlier house.
The moat, formerly dry either side of the N corner, is now
waterfilled along its full extent. It is square in plan,
measuring overall, 80.0m. The arms are 12.0 to 14.0m in width
and up to 1.7m in depth. A modern stone bridge crosses the NE
arm to the house.
1:2500 AM survey, 20.7.64 and MSD revised. (6)
The moat is exactly square with sides measuring 85m externally. It is
on the whole well-preserved, although the north-west corner, formerly
infilled (authority 6), has been re-cut as a channel narrower than
elsewhere and the other corners show some signs of damage from
allowing cattle to drink from the moat. It is now again completely
water-filled. An external bank is traceable to south, east and west,
best preserved to the east where it is 5m wide and 0.3m high. The
central island is nearly square, ranging from 50m-55m across and
stands some 0.5m above the external ground surface on all sides
except the north. The north edge of the island has been removed in
favour of ornamental flower beds. Slight scarps on the island may
predate the existing 19th century house here, and relate to the
earlier building recorded by Ormerod (authority 2).
The creation of the moat probably dates from the 13th century when
Ormerod records that the township of Hatton was granted to the Hatton
family of Daresbury. The causeway across the north arm of the moat is
19th century, presumably replacing the earlier drawbridge mentioned
by the same authority.
Earthwork enclosures east and west of the moat, alleged to be
deserted village earthworks, are probably associated ancillary courts
containing domestic outbuildings, etc (SJ 46 SE 12).
Surveyed by RCHME at 1:1000 scale; see plans and descriptive text
held in the NMR archive. (7)
SJ 4720 6105. Hatton Hall moated site. Scheduled RSM No 13456. (9)
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