Bentley Moat Hills

Has been described as a Possible Fortified Manor House

There are earthwork remains

NameBentley Moat Hills
Alternative NamesBentley Old Hall; Arksey
Historic CountryYorkshire
Modern AuthorityDoncaster
1974 AuthoritySouth Yorkshire
Civil ParishDoncaster

Two islands surrounded by a substantial moat and divided by a ditch running north west to south east. The eastern island measures c.70m x 70m and the western c.60m x 60m. The latter has a shallow, marshy depression in its western angle which represents a former fishpond and a low platform in the eastern angle. Grass-covered stone footings run in parallel banks, west to east across the north corner. A causeway crosses the central ditch, linking the two islands, and grass-covered rubble piled nearby is believed to be the remains of a gatehouse. The eastern island has a low bank along the line of the central ditch, suggesting a revetment wall which may also have continued round the north side, though here the bank does not survive so well. As on the western island, low banks of grass-covered stone run parallel west to east and a substantial E-shaped earthwork, with traces of a bank closing one section, exists in the east corner, indicating building foundations measuring c.30m x 25m. The moat is partially water-filled to the north, west and east but is largely buried beneath a tip to the south. Channels coming into the moat from the north west and east are inlet and outlet ditches. Earthworks within the northernmost of these, close to its confluence with the moat, are interpreted as the position of a dam or sluice. (Scheduling Report)

Gatehouse Comments

Clark records a 'moot hill' at Bentley. This is, presumably, a reference to this 'moat hill'. He also records "Arney.– A moot hill, near Doncaster" This article has a number of idiosyncratic spellings (How good was Clark's handwritting?). There is no Arney place-name but Gatehouse suspects this is Arksey so a duplicate listing or a reference to Arksey Round-About Moat (SE577072) a rectangular homestead moat. Interestingly the Lidar image shows a very motte like mound in the grounds of Bentley primary school at SE56550542. This is, apparently, a modern feature.

- Philip Davis

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSE572060
Latitude53.547981262207
Longitude-1.13779997825623
Eastings457260
Northings406040
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink
Photo by Philip Davis. All Rights Reserved

() above

Latitude 53° 32' 52.18" Longitude -1° 8' 17.37"

View full Sized Image
Photo by Philip Davis. All Rights Reserved

() above

Latitude 53° 32' 52.18" Longitude -1° 8' 17.37"

View full Sized Image
Photo by Philip Davis. All Rights Reserved

() above

Latitude 53° 32' 52.18" Longitude -1° 8' 17.37"

View full Sized Image
Photo by Philip Davis. All Rights Reserved

() above

Latitude 53° 32' 52.18" Longitude -1° 8' 17.37"

View full Sized Image
Photo by Philip Davis. All Rights Reserved

() above

Latitude 53° 32' 52.18" Longitude -1° 8' 17.37"

View full Sized Image

Most of the sites or buildings recorded in this web site are NOT open to the public and permission to visit a site must always be sought from the landowner or tenant.

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Books

  • Hey, David, 2003, Medieval South Yorkshire (Landmark Publishing) p. 79, 83
  • Sneyd, Steve, 1995, The Devil's Logbook Castles and Fortified Sites around South Yorkshire (Hilltop Press) p. 6
  • Magilton, J.R., 1977, The Doncaster District: An Archaeological Survey (Doncaster) p. 13, 92
  • Le Patourel, H.E. Jean, 1973, The Moated Sites of Yorkshire (The Society for Medieval Archaeology Monograph Series 5) p. 122
  • Allen, T., 1831, History of Yorkshire p. 161
  • Hunter, J., 1828, South Yorkshire. The History and Topography of the Deanery of Doncaster in the Diocese and County of York Vol. 1 p. 323, 435
  • Miller, E., 1804, The History of Antiquities of Doncaster (Doncaster) p. 227 online copy

Journals

  • Birch, J., 1981, 'The castles and fortified houses of South Yorkshire' The Archaeological Journal Vol. 137 p. 374-6
  • Clark, G.T., 1889, 'Contribution towards a complete list of moated mounds or burhs' The Archaeological Journal Vol. 46 p. 197-217 esp. 214 online copy

Other

  • Historic England, 2016, Heritage at Risk Yorkshire Register 2016 (London: Historic England) p. 67 online copy
  • Historic England, 2015, Heritage at Risk Yorkshire Register 2015 (London: Historic England) p. 77 online copy
  • English Heritage, 2014, Heritage at Risk Register 2014 Yorkshire (London: English Heritage) p. 87 online copy
  • English Heritage, 2013, Heritage at Risk Register 2013 Yorkshire (London: English Heritage) p. 91 online copy
  • English Heritage, 2012, Heritage at Risk Register 2012 Yorkshire and the Humber (London: English Heritage) p. 113 online copy
  • English Heritage, 2011, Heritage at Risk Register 2011 Yorkshire and the Humber (London: English Heritage) p. 105 online copy
  • English Heritage, 2010, Heritage at Risk Register 2010 Yorkshire and the Humber (London: English Heritage) p. 108 online copy
  • English Heritage, 2009, Heritage at Risk Register 2009 Yorkshire and the Humber (London: English Heritage) p. 119 online copy