ANCIENT EARTHWORKS 



HOMESTEAD MOATS 

 (Class F) 



Earthworks of this kind, consisting of simple inclosurcs formed into 

 artificial islands by water-moats, arc found mostly in the lowlands of the county 

 in such districts as the richly pastured plain known as the Vale of Aylesbury. 



The purpose of the typical homestead moat was to afford protection 

 from marauders or wolves, and possibly to avoid risk of loss of, or damage to, 

 cattle and farm produce from a spreading fire. Yet, although they were not 

 constructed to withstand powerful enemies or regular military operations, 

 they were not infrequently of considerable size. They present much variety 

 of form, as will be seen from the typical examples here figured. 



The probability is that the homestead moats of Buckinghamshire have 

 been constructed at different periods ; but if, as seems extremely probable, 

 they represent the period when the inhabitants of the county settled down to 

 the regular and systematic pursuit of husbandry, most of the really ancient 

 examples are probably Saxon. 



In the accompanying plate are represented plans of nine typical or note- 

 worthy forms of homestead moats in Buckinghamshire. 



Fig. i. A very simple square inclosure with entrance at north-east 

 corner : Horton. 



Fig. 2. A very similar example in which the water, represented in 

 solid black, has probably shrunk in bulk, leaving precipitous sides within 

 and without the moat : Bow Brickhill. 



Fig. 3. A completely surrounded square island, the moat being crossed 

 by a bridge : Horton Hall, Slapton. 



Fig. 4. Two square islands surrounded by a moat : Apsley, Little 

 Kimble. 



Fig. 5. A curiously shaped semicircular island surrounded by a moat, 

 with an entrance at the south-western side : Church Farm, Pitstone. 



Fig. 6. A nearly regular five-sided island entirely surrounded by a 

 moat : Little Pednor Farm, Chesham. 



Fig. 7. A curiously irregular moat, roughly square outside, with 

 narrow entrance on north side : East End, North Crawley. 



Fig. 8. Dry moat at Cippenham, Burnham, inclosing the site of the 

 palace of Richard, earl of Cornwall and king of the Romans, therefore 

 probably a work of the thirteenth century, or earlier. 



Fig. 9. An irregularly shaped moat and inclosure, with a strengthening 

 rampart on the north-east and east : Dinton. 



The following is a list, which has no pretension to completeness, of 

 homestead moats in Buckinghamshire : 



ASHLEY GREEN. Moat inclosing ruins of chapel. 



ASTON ABBOTS. Remains of a moat. 



ASTON CLINTON. Rectangular moat : also a dry moat at Vatche's Farm. 



ASTON SANDFORD. A moat one mile north-east of church. 



ASTWOOD. Portions of a moat at The Bury : also a small quadrangular 

 moat. 



AYLESBURY. Moat ij miles east of the town. 



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