Scheduled Monument: CUBLEY HALL MOATED SITE (1011619)

REASONS FOR DESIGNATION Around 6,000 moated sites are known in England. They consist of wide ditches, often or seasonally water-filled, partly or completely enclosing one or more islands of dry ground on which stood domestic or religious buildings. In some cases the islands were used for horticulture. The majority of moated sites served as prestigious aristocratic and seigneurial residences with the provision of a moat intended as a status symbol rather than a practical military defence. The peak period during which moated sites were built was between about 1250 and 1350 and by far the greatest concentration lies in central and eastern parts of England. However, moated sites were built throughout the medieval period, are widely scattered throughout England and exhibit a high level of diversity in their forms and sizes. They form a significant class of medieval monument and are important for the understanding of the distribution of wealth and status in the countryside. Many examples provide conditions favourable to the survival of organic remains. Cubley Hall moated site is a very well preserved example of a large manorial moat with documented historical associations. It has suffered very little disturbance since it was abandoned and the buried remains of buildings and other features from all phases of occupation will survive throughout the monument. DETAILS The monument is a moated site comprising a roughly rectangular 3m high platform surrounded by a flat bottomed moat with an average base width of 10m and an upper width of 20m. The moat is cut into a steep west-facing slope. Consequently, the outer bank on the east side is between 3m and 4m high whereas, elsewhere, it is as low as 1m. The main part of the platform measures 45m from north to south by 25m from east to west. However, on the south side, there is an additional 7m wide terrace which slopes gradually down to the moat and incorporates, at the south-east corner of the platform, a mound including fragments of brick and polished stone. This is interpreted as the footings of a bridge across the moat. Enclosing the moat on the west and south sides is a 1m high flat topped bank measuring 6m wide which may, originally, have been the site of a wall. At the north-west corner of the moat can be seen the remains of an outlet into Cubley Brook while, at the north-east corner, there is the mouth of a leat which would have drained water off the adjacent hillside. The moat was the site of Cubley Hall and was the seat of the Montgomery family. SELECTED SOURCES Book Reference - Title: Victoria County History: Derby I - Date: 1905 - Page References: 388-9 - Type: DESC TEXT Book Reference - Author: Craven, M. and Drage, C. - Title: Moated Sites List - Date: 1982 - Type: DESC TEXT - Description: SMR Book Reference - Author: Drage, C. - Title: Cubley Hall moated site - Date: 1982 - Type: PLAN: MEASURED Map Reference - Author: Speed, J. - Title: Map of Derbyshire - Date: 1610 - Type: MAP