Hodgeston Moat

Has been described as a Possible Fortified Manor House

There are earthwork remains

NameHodgeston Moat
Alternative Names
Historic CountryPembrokeshire
Modern AuthorityPembrokeshire
1974 AuthorityDyfed
CommunityLamphey

A moated platform, 26m square, upon which a small building stood until c.1870. The 'considerable ruins' reported at Hodgeston in 1717 may have been on this site. (source Os495card; SS09NW1, 4)

A possible channel/branch of moat is apparent, heading WNW. RCAHMW AP955103/51 J.Wiles 11.03.04 (Coflein)

An irregular parallelogram about 70 yards by 50, surrounded by a ditch which was full of water when I examined the place. Apparently mediaeval work, perhaps the site of strong house or fortified parsonage, it is close to the church.

Internal Dimensions in feet; 90x85. Spurgeon 1981 (Dyfed Archaeological Trust HER)

Moat_

This is a square enclosure (60 feet by 60), a few yards west of the parish church. The moat which surrounds it still contains water on three sides, the fourth is much overgrown. A small building stood within the moat until about the year 1870 when it was removed.- Visted, 18th May, 1922.

Note.- A small, probably mense, manor of Hodgeston certainly existed in the medieval period, but its history is practically a blank. There is no appearance of a baronial mound in the parish, but this feature may be represented by the moated mansion noticed above. In 1408 Henry Malenfant and Thomas Sturmyn are described as "lords of Hodgeston" and true patrons of the free chapel of the same (Episcopal Registers). (RHAHMW Inventory 1925)

Gatehouse Comments

Ditches now no longer water filled. Clearly the manorial centre, even if inhabited by a bailiff so a moated manor house. May have been dressed up with some martial symbols and is not far from the coast some possible defensive against pirate raids.

- Philip Davis

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law

Not Listed

The National Monument Record (Coflein) number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSS029994
Latitude51.6591491699219
Longitude-4.85087013244629
Eastings202910
Northings199451
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Spurgeon, C.J., 1981, Medieval Moated Sites in NW Europe
  • Rees, Wm, 1932, Map of South Wales and the Border in the 14th century (Ordnance Survey) (A handbook to the map was published in 1933)
  • RCAHMW, 1925, An inventory of the Ancient Monuments of Pembrokeshire (HMSO) p. 122 no. 329 online copy
  • Laws, E. and Owen, H., 1908, Archaeological Survey of Pembrokeshire 1896-1907 (Tenby)

Journals

  • Spurgeon, C.J., 1978, 'Medieval moated sites in Wales: present knowledge and future prospect' Archaeology in Wales Vol. 18 p. 18-29