Littywood moated site

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.

Littywood moated site survives well, its earthworks being particularly evident. It is the only example of a double concentric circular moated site in Staffordshire and illustrates well the diversity in form of this class of monument. The site has been continuously occupied since the 12th century and will contain organic material within the waterlogged moat.

Details

The monument includes Littywood moated site, the only moated site in Staffordshire with two concentric, circular moats. It includes a central platform upon which stands Littywood House. Surrounding the platform is a dry inner moat up to 40m wide and 3m deep which is separated from the outer moat by a flat-topped bank up to 22m wide. The outer moat remains waterlogged on its eastern side but is dry on the west. Two connecting channels linking the moats have been cut through the bank on its western side. An outer bank up to 13m wide flanks the outer moat on its south-west and western sides. Access to the house is by a causeway on the north-east side. Littywood was the manorial house of the Baron of Stafford prior to passing through the Caverswall, Willoughby and Greville families. In c.1502 the manor was leased to John Stapledon whose family later claimed they had been tenants since the 12th or 13th centuries. The house was originally two timber-framed buildings still largely preserved, converted into the present house which has a later brick shell. Littywood House, all outbuildings, service pipes, inspection chambers, telegraph poles, driveways, paths, fences, walls and field boundaries are excluded from the scheduling although the ground beneath all these features is included.

MAP EXTRACT The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract. It includes a 2 metre boundary around the archaeological features, considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

22435

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Larkham, P J, Moated Settlements in South Staffordshire in Moated Settlements in South Staffordshire, (1985), 16
Larkham, P J, Moated Settlements in South Staffordshire in Moated Settlements in South Staffordshire, (1985), 25
Simpson, J, The Old Stafford Society Transactions for 1958-9 in Circular Moated Site at Littywood, Nr Bradley, Stafford, (1958)

Other
SMR No 56, Staffs SMR, Littywood : Bradley : Stafford,
Darvill, T., MPP Single Monument Class Descriptions - Moats, (1988)

End of official list entry

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