| Marston Moat | |
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Location of Marston Moat in Somerset
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| Location: | Trudoxhill, Somerset, England |
| Coordinates: | |
| Scheduled monument | |
| Official name: Marston Moat | |
| Designated: | 1 November 1966[1] |
| Reference #: | 29779 |
Marston Moat is the site of a fortified manor house in the parish of Trudoxhill, Somerset, England. It has been designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument.[2] It is now on the Heritage at Risk register due to animal burrowing.[3]
The 23 feet (7.0 m) wide moat which measures 108 feet (33 m) by 188 feet (57 m) has a 10 feet (3.0 m) wide and 1 foot (0.30 m) high bank on its south and east sides.[4] It is situated east of the River Frome.
The site was held by the Bigot family of Marston Bigot before 1195. There is some evidence that they fortified it without a licence from Edward II.[5] As a result of this and an insult to the King's messenger Richard Bigot lost his titles to land,[6] which were assigned to William de Meriet and John de Meriet.[7]
It was leased as a farmhouse by the reign of Edward IV however none of the stone remains,[2] and no full excavation has ever been carried out.[8]