Page 25 - Moons Moat

Moons Moat Redditch Heritage

Excavation of the banks of the
island revealed that a continuous
inner perimeter wall was running
along the lower edge of the moat’s
scarp. It was in a large foundation
trench and was made up of red and
but mostly white sandstone and
bits of tile and mortar. Originally
the side facing the moat had been
covered with a white mortar and
capped with flat sandstone slabs.
It was suggested that some of this
stone had come from an
ecclesiastical building and
Bordesley Abbey has been
suggested as a source.

After removal of the causeway on
the northern arm of the moat a
white sandstone pier was
uncovered which was built into the
wall which surrounded and
enclosed the island. The stone was
well dressed and measured 4.5
metres long and projected 3 metres
into the moat. Two large post-holes
at the top of the feature probably
represented supports for a bridge
structure.

The moat measured between 7 to
8 metres across and would have
held water to a depth of about 1.5
More evidence of the status of the building,
metres. An earlier smaller bridge this paved area consisted of slate-like
was discovered on excavation of stones embedded into a clay base.
the moat, which would also have
had a perimeter wall. No dating
material earlier than the 16th century has been found in the moat so it is impossible to
say whether the moat was earlier.

It may have been that the moat was re-cut when the second bridge was built destroying
earlier evidence or the moat was not constructed until the 16th century. Further
examination of the mere (pool), which now forms part of the site, shows it was in fact
of similar dimensions to the rest of the moat and so has been altered at a later date to
form a large pool area.

There were two periods of destruction and re-construction – one during the 16th century,
the other much later in the 19th century when the site was extensively robbed and the
causeway built. The earliest pottery found was in the south-eastern corner and dated to
about 1300. This would suggest that the site has no earlier evidence than the 13th

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