ANCIENT EARTHWORKS smaller circular moat is also to be found in a wood near the manor house at Westoning. (6) ' The Creakers ' near Great Barford. — The earthwork, here stands on almost level ground, which in places collects much water. A considerable moat runs round two sides of an interior central area, after the fashion of Bletsoe. If it ever completed the circuit, the returning sides have been filled in, and a small eighteenth century farmhouse with its garden occupies the position. From this inner area a small mound of irregular shape projects to the south for about 70 feet into what is now a large pond. This mound, at the highest, rises 4 or 5 feet above the level behind it and 9 or 10 feet above the water line. It tends to a point at the end of the promontory, and is about 30 feet across at the broadest. On its west side the moat referred to bends round to enclose it and is full of water, being now really a part of the pond. Following this moat along its whole course on both flanks is a large exterior rampart which dies out near the farm to the north and at the edge of the pond on the south. These inner works are covered by strong lines of entrenchment immediately outside them, which now form two sides of a square, the returning angle being still evident on the north-east and a trace of the third side. This square outer work has a large rampart and exterior ditch. Whether the water originally occupied all its present area about the mound is doubtful. There was perhaps a second court below it with surrounding ditch, which may have been converted into a pond for farm purposes. There are other faintly marked lines to the east and south, but nothing very decipherable. HOMESTEAD MOATS There are very many moated sites of this class all over the county, as there are throughout most of eastern and southern England, and but few parishes exist that could not provide us with several examples apiece. The monastic sites were many of them defended by earthen ram- parts and moats, and are of special interest because here we have the help of dates. They are for the most part on low ground near rivers. Newnham Priory near Bedford should be described because its main enclosing lines are still existing, and because in some places they are being obliterated by having the town rubbish distributed over them. The area enclosed is not less than 35 acres. This priory was founded by Simon de Beauchamp about 1165. The rampart and moat which outlined the main enclosure may be seen round all its three sides, in parts of it very strong ; and to the east they are supplemented by a kind of terraced platform with a smaller moat inside it. The Ouse closed up the fourth side to the south. At the north-east and north-west angles the rampart is strengthened by small mounds ; in the latter case some 10 feet high and 20 feet across the top, with a circular rim round about it and projecting considerably beyond the line of the ramparts. This type of mound has already been noted in several of the previous descriptions. No doubt both rampart and mounds were stockaded. 303
