Ampfield Winchester Road Moat

Has been described as a Questionable Fortified Manor House

There are cropmark/slight earthwork remains

NameAmpfield Winchester Road Moat
Alternative Names
Historic CountryHampshire and the Isle of Wight
Modern AuthorityHampshire
1974 AuthorityHampshire
Civil ParishAmpfield

A roughly square piece of land, slightly higher than the surrounding ground, the circumference of which is bounded by the vestiges of a sunken way, most apparent on the northern arc. The south side has been erased by the main road; the west by a garden and outbuildings, though a slight dip is visible; the east by a farm track. The northern arm is partly water filled, the outer slope is relatively gentle and grass-covered, whereas the inner is steep and surmounted by a quickset hedge. The centre is occupied by a modern house and market garden (F1 JM 25-AUG-53).

The area is sited on a hilltop: the topographical nature of the land is such, that an outer bank of most massive proportions would have been necessary on the W & NW to retain the waters of a moat. No traces of such a bank exist. The extent A-B closely resembles the hollow way and it continues along the eastern side in the form of a sunken lane. The 'slight dip' on the west is caused by the juxtaposition of a modern drive to the adjoining house, constructed causeway fashion because of the immediate and rapid falling away of the land generally. Because of its topographical relationship to the adjacent hollow way the two can have no connection, nor is one likely to be the variant of the other. No literary evidence was encountered, but accepting this to be the role of a mediaeval house, it could not have been moated but merely fortified by a ditch (F2 VEL 08-JAN-54). (PastScape)

Gatehouse Comments

Clearly a homestead 'moat' not a manor house.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSU396233
Latitude51.007999420166
Longitude-1.43637001514435
Eastings439640
Northings123330
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

No photos available. If you can provide pictures please contact Castlefacts

Most of the sites or buildings recorded in this web site are NOT open to the public and permission to visit a site must always be sought from the landowner or tenant.

Calculate Print