NHER 7290 (Monument record) - Medieval moated site of Kirkham's manor house

Moat (Ordnance Survey).
Ditches are very deep, and wide in places, though overgrown. Most of interior is impenetrable, but the west side is open, revealing several mounds, probably covering foundations. In northwest corner is a very large rectangular ?pond cuts into centre. Planting round outside of ditches seems like intentional hedges gone wild.
1 medieval brick found lying on track nearby.
Visited by E. Rose (NAU) 7 October 1976.

(S1) and (S2) shows outer enclosures now bulldozed.
A. Rogerson (NAU) 17 September 1982.

(S1) and (S2) shows possible outer enclosures of moat to north, and at west what could be a second, connected moat, which is unusual. Now bulldozed but earthworks in 1946.
See NHER 20829.
E. Rose (NAU) 13 February 1985.

November 1986.
Large part of northwest area mechanically excavated to form pond.

Visited 7 December 1986.
Some brick and tile collected (called context 1).
A. Rogerson (NAU)

13 March 1987.
Disturbance plotted by A. Rogerson at 1:1250 for Fransham Survey.
Pond, presumably an original feature, redug and shape altered. Spoil, both peat and clay, dumped around new pond over
new ponds edges, part of island and part of west arm of moat. Rapid look at island showed that most of south half has dense mortar and pegtile spread with some brick and flint wall just above ground, 0.5m wide, 4m long, aligned north to south. Near edge of moat so perhaps revetment. Fragment of glazed plain floor tile near wall, medieval base sherd near centre.
See (S3) for NHER 20829, Field L169.
Identified by and information from A. Rogerson (NAU)
E. Rose (NAU) 5 August 1987.

2002. Documentary Research.
Documentary reasearch by A. Rogerson (S4) examines a series of medieval accounts dating from 1373 to 1443, which mention various buildings that were part of the manorial complex, including a blacksmiths, a dovecote, a pigsty, a timber framed barn, stables, a kiln, a malthouse, a buttery and guest accomodation. They also refer to a bridge across the moat. The manor was leased out from the mid 15th century, which may be when decline set in.
An outer court is mentioned in an early 16th century document
See unpublished report (S4) and later publication (S5).
S. Spooner (NLA), 9 December 2005. Amended H. Hamilton (HES), 09 November 2023.