Medieval moated site and 18th century dovecote, 600m east of Outchester

Scheduled area

© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Historic England (NHLE)

History & significance

The moated site and dovecote 600 metres east of Outchester is a medieval settlement complex comprising an artificially created moat of approximately 1.5 hectares, likely constructed between the 12th and 14th centuries as a defensive or status-laden residential enclosure. The site represents a typical example of medieval moated homestead occupation in Northumberland, a region where such features were constructed by both gentry and substantial farmers seeking to establish fortified domestic compounds. An 18th-century stone dovecote stands within or adjacent to the moated enclosure, indicating continued use and investment in the site during the post-medieval period and reflecting the agricultural prosperity of its later occupants. The monument survives as earthwork remains demonstrating the evolution of rural settlement patterns and land management practices across medieval and early modern Northumberland.

Medieval moated site and 18th century dovecote, 600m east of Outchester is a scheduled monument protected by Historic England under reference 1014570. View the official record →

Questions & answers

Other scheduled monuments within 10 km

Generate a full report for this location

Aubrey generates in-depth historical research for any address in Britain — drawing on scheduled monument data, Domesday records, Roman heritage, PAS finds and medieval history to reveal the complete story of a landscape.