Rock moated site and medieval village

Rock moated site and medieval village
Part of the moat, viewed from the north-west
Location	Worcestershire
Coordinates	52°20′14″N 2°23′38″W
OS grid reference	SO 733 711
Scheduled monument
Designated	21 July 1992
Reference no.	108658
Location of Rock moated site and medieval village in Worcestershire

Rock moated site and medieval village is an archaeological site, including a deserted medieval village, in Worcestershire, England, near the village of Rock and about 4 miles (6.4 km) south-west of Bewdley. It is a Scheduled Monument.[1]

History

Rock in medieval times is known to have been larger than it now is: in 1328, Henry de Ribbesford, who held Rock, had a grant of a weekly market and of a yearly fair on the feast of St Margaret and two days following.[2]

A moat was usually created as a status symbol, around a domestic or religious building, rather than for practical defence. The reason for this moat is not known.[1] In a description of the village in 1924, for the Victoria County History series, it was thought to be possibly the site of a cattle enclosure.[2]

The Church of St Peter and St Paul in Rock dates from the 12th century, with additions during the 14th century and restoration in the late 19th century.[2]

Earthworks

The moated enclosure lies immediately south-east of the church. It measures 114 metres (374 ft) north to south and 110 metres (360 ft) west to east; the ditch is about 3 metres (9.8 ft) deep with a bank on its outer edge. Halfway along the west side is an original entrance 7 metres (23 ft) wide. The space enclosed is about 0.3 hectares (0.74 acres); the uneven ground there indicates that there are buried features.[1]

Adjacent to the north-east is the site of a medieval settlement; it has been ploughed in recent times, but evidence remains of streets, orientated north-west to south-east, and homesteads of the village.[1]

See also

• List of lost settlements in the United Kingdom

References

1. Historic England. "Rock Farm moated site, deserted medieval village and ridge and furrow, 100m SE of St Peter and St Paul's Church (1008658)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
2. 'Parishes: Rock or Aka', in A History of the County of Worcester: Volume 4, ed. William Page and J W Willis-Bund (London, 1924), pp. 319-328 British History Online. Retrieved 16 March 2020.