ANCIENT EARTHWORKS 
smaller circular moat is also to be found in a wood near the manor house 
at Westoning. 
(6) ‘THe CREAKERS’ NEAR GREAT Barrorp.—The earthwork here 
stands on almost level ground, which in places collects much water. A 
considerable moat runs round two sides of an interior central area, after the 
fashion of Bletsoe. If it ever completed the circuit, the returning sides 
have been filled in, and a small eighteenth century farmhouse with 
its garden occupies the position. From this inner area a small mound 
of irregular shape projects to the south for about 70 feet into what is 
now alarge pond. This mound, at the highest, rises 4 or 5 feet above the 
level behind it and g or 10 feet above the water line. It tends to a point 
at the end of the promontory, and is about 30 feet across at the broadest. 
On its west side the moat referred to bends round to enclose it and is 
full of water, being now really a part of the pond. Following this moat 
along its whole course on both flanks is a large exterior rampart which 
dies out near the farm to the north and at the edge of the pond on the 
south. These inner works are covered by strong lines of entrenchment 
immediately outside them, which now form two sides of a square, the 
returning angle being still evident on the north-east and a trace of the 
third side. This square outer work has a large rampart and exterior 
ditch. Whether the water originally occupied all its present area about 
the mound is doubtful. There was perhaps a second court below it 
with surrounding ditch, which may have been converted into a pond for 
farm purposes. There are other faintly marked lines to the east and south, 
but nothing very decipherable. 
HOMESTEAD MOATS 
There are very many moated sites of this class all over the county, 
as there are throughout most of eastern and southern England, and but 
few parishes exist that could not provide us with several examples apiece. 
The monastic sites were many of them defended by earthen ram- 
parts and moats, and are of special interest because here we have the 
help of dates. They are for the most part on low ground near rivers. 
Newnham Priory near Bedford should be described because its 
main enclosing lines are still existing, and because in some places they 
are being obliterated by having the town rubbish distributed over 
them. The area enclosed is not less than 35 acres. This priory was 
founded by Simon de Beauchamp about 1165. The rampart and moat 
which outlined the main enclosure may be seen round all its three sides, 
in parts of it very strong ; and to the east they are supplemented by a kind 
of terraced platform with a smaller moat inside it. The Ouse closed up 
the fourth side to the south. At the north-east and north-west angles 
the rampart is strengthened by small mounds; in the latter case some 
10 feet high and 20 feet across the top, with a circular rim round 
about it and projecting considerably beyond the line of the ramparts. 
This type of mound has already been noted in several of the previous 
descriptions. No doubt both rampart and mounds were stockaded. 
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