Monument record MDO1260 - Moat at Hooke Court, Hooke

Upton, K L, 1978, The Moated Sites of Dorset (Unpublished document). SDO14051.

‘Hooke Court, unlike most of the other Dorset examples, was in aristocratic ownership.
Although not mentioned in Domesday, Hooke was probably include din another parish or under another name (possibly “La Hoc”).
However, it is known that the earliest Lord was Cifrewast, who was probably seated in Oxon. Robert Cifrewast held Hooke during Edward III’s reign. It was his grand-daughter that married sir Humphrey Stafford, who build the house in 1407. The house then passed to the Paulets (Marquis of Winchester) and further additions to the house were made.
Much of the present building dates from the 17th Century and is now used as a school. Photographs taken at the end of the last century show the moat as a well-kept continuous stretch of water forming a curve. This is also shown on the 1888 6” O.S. map (See Fig. ).
Originally, the moat surrounded the early house but a large part of it has been filled in. The North arm where still in existence closely skirted the 15th Century wing, but extensions made filling in necessary. The remaining portion of moat lies South East of the house and consists of a 2 sections of water-filled ditch, part of which has been converted for use as a swimming pool. The 2 sections which form an arc are separated by a further section, filled in earlier this century. The Northern section is approximately 12 m. wide and had its Northern end filled in fairly recently decreasing its length to its present 45 m. The filled-in section lies at the point where the moat turns to run East. This modern ‘causeway’ is approximately 10 – 12 m. wide and forms the North East edge of the swimming pool. On the pool’s South West side there is a short section of moat approximately 12 m. long and 10 m. wide. Any evidence of the moat beyond the West end of this section is totally absent, as is any evidence of external associated earthworks. The site is perched, the platform extending out over the slope to the South East. Not enough details remain for the site to be classified without doubt.
When the moat was cleared of silt and debris for building of the pool a misericord type dagger of 13th-14th Century date was found along with other finds of late and post medieval date (see Fig. ). They are now on display at Dorset County Museum in Dorchester.’

<1> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments England, 1952, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume I (West), 126 (Monograph). SDO97.

'(2) HOOKE COURT … The Moat surrounded the early house but the W. and part of the N. sides have been filled in. The N. arm closely skirted the 15th-century wing.'

<2> Coulson, C, 1989, Letter, Dr C Coulson (Unpublished document). SWX8684.

'HOOK - lccd. 1344 to Robert Sifrewast (C.P.R. 1343-5, 384, as "Hoke"; sd ibid p.434, vacated (near Cerne).'

Record last edited

Nov 26 2024 11:18AM