Page 20 - Moons Moat

Redditch Heritage Moons Moat

Chapter 5 - Fact or Fiction?

For what it's worth, the legend tells of an illegitimate son of William Sheldon (1558- 1659), called
Marmaduke (not a Sheldon name). He was obliged to emigrate to America. His father, William,
put aside a substantial hoard of silver plate and coin for him. On William's death, his Catholic
confessor, Father Eyston, buried the treasure at Lord Moon's Moat.

Since William Sheldon lived at Weston House, near Shipston on Stour in Warwickshire,
it is strange that the priest should come over to Moons Moat to bury the loot. Nor is it
clear why Moon, otherwise unknown, should have received a peerage. The writer may
be suggesting that by 1659 Moons Moat was unoccupied and had long been so, for he
refers to it "as an evil place and the haunt of ghosts."

Father Eyston travelled to America to inform Marmaduke of his good fortune, but Red Indians
got to him first and the good news was never received. Coded clues about the treasure did
reach a Sheldon, a Major Marmaduke Sheldon of the United States Army, in the early 19th
century. Who could possibly be providing these clues? The Major advertised for help in
finding the Sheldon Plate in "Aris's Birmingham Gazette" for 10 June 1813. There was a
response, amazingly enough. A number of villains appear. There is a coach chase worthy
of a Hollywood epic. The goodies reach the Moat first and dig up the treasure at midnight
-under a convenient full moon. Major Sheldon lived happily or at least wealthy ever after.

I know of no corroboration for this story which seems to belong to the romantic school
of history. If it was written in the second half of the 19th century, it is likely that Moons
Moat had been deserted for perhaps a generation and may have had an evil reputation.

Not until the 1970s did Moons Moat find itself with neighbours. Indeed it was surrounded
by the fairly dense housing of Church Hill South. Whilst it was still moated, the island was
seriously overgrown. It was difficult to imagine those 20 generations of farmers living
there. The restoration of 2008 and the emergence of a group of people interested in
preserving this medieval site points to a future for this West Midland moated site.

Ralph Richardson September 2008

Ralph Richardson has lived and worked in Redditch for many years. Born in
Beverley, East Yorkshire Ralph Richardson was educated at Beverley Grammar
School and Magnus Grammar School, Newark, Notts.

After graduating in Mediaeval and Modern History at the University of Manchester,
he taught in the City of Nottingham Nottinghamshire and Worcestershire. He was
Headmaster of Arrow Vale High School, Redditch before retireing. He has written
several local history books and regularly give talks to local groups and societies on
historical topics.

Among his numerous interests are philately and the study of monumental brasses.
He is married with one son.

Page: 19