A HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX 



ICKENHAM (ix, 1 6). At MANOR FARM, to the south-east of 

 Ickenham village, a narrow moat takes a somewhat eccentric plan, 

 and is evidently the work of two periods. The earlier moat was 

 quadrangular, with the northern side joining the western at an acute 

 angle. At some later date the eastern extremity of the northern trench 

 appears to have been extended, while the eastern side of the moat 

 about 1 20 ft. from the south-eastern angle was also turned eastwards in 

 a line parallel to the northern extension ; a fragment of the original 

 moat remaining between them. 



ISLEWORTH (xx, 7). To the west of Isleworth and of the River 

 Crane is a square moat with the entrance on the east side. 



LONDON : HIGHBURY (xii, 14). The site of a moat in this parish is 

 described by Nichols, 8 who, however, could not but associate it with the 

 Romans. He says that in fields north-west of White Conduit House is 

 a large inclosure called the Reedmote, or Six Acre Field, and supposed 

 to have been a Roman camp ; and at the south-east corner was the site 

 of a square moated mansion, commonly called Jack Straw's Castle. 



LONDON. Highbury Barn was also a moated site in the same 

 parish. 



LONDON : ST. MARY ISLINGTON (xvii, 2). Beyond Bowman's 

 Lodge, on the west side of Holloway Road, were the demesnes of 

 Barnsbury Manor. The lines of the moated site of the manor-house 

 could be traced until recently at the back of some houses fronting 

 the Hercules Road. In 1835, when the outline was distinct, it was 

 described as of irregular form. 



LONDON : ST. MARY ISLINGTON (xvii, 2). Some eighty years ago 

 an earthwork was discernible in the gardens of the houses on the west 

 side of Barnsbury Square. It was the moat of Mountfort House ; but 

 the southern side almost in a line with the south side or the square 

 was so pronounced, being about 20 ft. wide and 8 ft. deep, that it gave rise 

 to the idea that it was the southern fosse of a Roman camp, while about 

 a century before this it had exercised the minds of the antiquaries of the 

 eighteenth century. In those days the outer margin of the west side of 

 the moat was apparently surmounted by a bank.* A fragment of the 

 trench remains in the garden of Mountfort House. 



NORTHOLT (xv, 2). At DOWN BARNS, one and a half miles west 

 of Northolt, a rectangular site is surrounded by a moat, of regular form 

 except on the east, where, south of the entrance, it is of wider dimen- 

 sions, and from it an irregular projection provides a pond. 



NORTHOLT (xv, 3). A moat is situated quite near to the church 

 which, from its exceptional character, demands a more detailed descrip- 

 tion. It stands upon high ground, and its banks are built up instead of 

 having been excavated around the protected site. At the southern 

 angle the moat is 1 2 ft. wide, and the central area rises to a height of 

 5 ft., overlooking the outer bank which is 4 ft. 6 in. high. The south- 



8 Bibliotheca Topographica Britannica, A.D. 178*. 

 ' Nichoh, Literary lilustrationi of Hut. v, 183. 



8 



