Prawls Farm moated site

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Abdale, Apdale

In the civil parish of Stone cum Ebony. In the historic county of Kent (Modern Authority of Kent, 1974 county of Kent).

A large moated site situated on the fringe of the flood plain of the River Rother. Kilburn suggests that the ruins of a great structure at Abdale or Apdale, supposed to have been a castle, were probably storehouses for merchants when the sea reached further inland. Bradshaw considers a rectangular earthwork, probably a Medieval moat to be the site referred to by Kilburne. Apart from clear evidence of a tower-like structure in the south west corner, no trace of buildings survive above ground level. Excavations by the landowner, have revealed encaustic tiles, knives, pot sherds, a spur and some nails. The description of the tiles suggest a 15th century date and a building of some substance. It would seem that this was a medieval dwelling, whatever else it may have been. The site is similarly situated to Little Maytham (TQ 82 NE 2) and Bodiam Old Manor (TQ 72 NE 7), both moated sites of 12th - 13th century dates, higher up the Rother valley. (Kent HER)
APDALE is a small manor here, the stone mansion of which has been long since ruinated, the scite of it only now remaining, appears to have been of no small size. The demesnes of it have been for some length of time added to a farm called Prauls, situated about a mile westward from the church. (Hasted)
Recorded as a 'Fortified Manor House' in the Kent HER although the other two, similiar, sites are not so recorded.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is TQ924266

Air Photo from Air Photo and general mapping	1st edition OS Map from Mid to late 19th century maps
Modern Map from Landscape form and features	Modern Map from General location and route planning
Geograph British Isles occasionally has photos of the site and will usually give an idea of the surrounding landscape.

Sources of information, references and further reading

This site's English Heritage (PastScape) Defra or Monument number is 419281
This site's County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number is TQ 92 NW 7 'grey' literature, such as watching brief reports, held by H.E.R.s is often poorly referenced and is unlikely to be recorded in this website.

• Books
  • Hasted, Edward, 1799 (2edn), A History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent Vol8 p480 http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=63517
    Kilburne, 1659, A Topography or Survey of the County of Kent
• Journal Articles
  • 1979, The Moated Sites Research Group Vol6 p48
    Tatton-Brown, T., 1977, Archaeologia Cantiana Vol97 p222
    Lebon, M.C., 1969, Archaeologia Cantiana Vol84 p240-1