Pynchester Moat is located near Ickenham and Harefield in the Hillingdon borough of London. The moated site is located along the bank of the River Pinn and on the Celandine Route, a trail which follows the river from Pinner to Hayes. (I recently walked the Ruislip to Ickenham leg of the route.) The moat is listed as a Scheduled Ancient Monument, and it is one of few that remains in London today. It probably served as a moated medieval farm house; wealthy owners in the past built moated and fortified homes to show power and wealth.
'Pynchester Ferme' was the name of the location when it was mentioned in a deed of Swakeleys Estate from 1531. It is unknown if the moat existed at that time. In the early-1800s, the moated site was listed here as "Farley's Mead". A similar moated property exists at Brackenbury Farm not too far and just northwest of Pynchester, and the estate was once combined.
The site was escavated in the mid-1960s, and flint foundations of walls were discovered along with roof tiles and a hearth with a stove. A wooden bridge crossed the moat. The site appears to have been occupied from thr 13th through 15th centuries judging by broken pottery pieces discovered. In 1996, the moat was protected further by adding fencing around it to help stop erosion and diverting the footpath.
Today, the main site can be seen via a diversion through some denser woods.
This leads to a small trail where the moat can be over-looked and visitors can see the back part of the moat, which is now close to private gardens.
From the main pathway, there is little to let you know that there is a moated site here.
A wooden railing helps to protect the hillside from being further eroded into the moat and to prevent people from walking or falling into it.
I wonder how many other ancient monuments lie buried or are hidden in plain view, disguised by the ages.
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