Ardeley Bury moated site
Has been described as a Questionable Timber Castle (Motte), and also as a Questionable Fortified Manor House
There are earthwork remains
| Name | Ardeley Bury moated site |
| Alternative Names | |
| Historic Country | Hertfordshire |
| Modern Authority | Hertfordshire |
| 1974 Authority | Hertfordshire |
| Civil Parish | Ardeley |
The monument at Ardeley Bury is a well preserved example of a moated site. Although altered by 19th century landscaping, the monument retains original features of the island and provides an above average example of an early post- medieval homestead moat.
The moat at Ardeley Bury is situated about 600m west of Ardeley village. The monument includes a large nearly square-shaped moat orientated north-east south-west. It measures c.140m long by c.115m wide. The arms of the moat are dry and are between 15m and 10m wide and are a maximum of 2m in depth. A renovated Tudor house is located in the northern half of the island, with a Grade 2 listed ice house situated about 12m north of the house. Part of the north-east arm has been infilled and forms the causeway onto the island. Footings at the west corner indicate the location of an earlier bridge alongside the modern wooden one. A substantial bank and ditch in the north arc of the moat and on the line of the original moat arm can be attributed to landscaping in the early 19th century. Ardeley Bury house, of mid-Tudor origin is a Grade 2star listed building. (Scheduling Report)
The moat is complete though dry save for the south part of the NE arm which has been filled in (OS record). Large area enclosed by ditch with large bank on W side. A substantial bank and ditch on this side suggest the work might have been a motte and bailey, 'not unlike that at Walkern Bury in the adjacent parish. Sir Henry Chauncy described it as "moated round, with a Mount within the moat, and a Garden-place within the Mount, which seems to be a Mark of a Fortification in the time of the Danish or Baron's Wars"' (Martin and Satchell)
Extensive landscaping (including the large lake in front of the house) took place when the house was altered in 1820, and earlier earthworks may have been altered then.
The manor belonged to the Canons of St Paul's Cathedral, from before 1066 until 1808; a motte may be unlikely. Although it was leased out from 1141 the tenants were often canons (Derek Renn pers corr 2011). (Hertfordshire HER)
This site is a scheduled monument protected by law
Not Listed
Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
| OS Map Grid Reference | TL301271 |
| Latitude | 51.9272193908691 |
| Longitude | -0.109329998493195 |
| Eastings | 530100 |
| Northings | 227100 |
