St. Neots, Rural

70. ST. NEOTS, RURAL (C.f.).

(O.S. 6 in. ^(a)XXV N.E., ^(b)XXVI S.W.)

St. Neots, Rural, is a parish adjoining that of St. Neots on the E. Monks Hardwick Hall is the principal monument.

Secular

^b(1). Homestead Moats and tank, at Wintringham Hall, towards the E. side of the parish. The larger moat partly surrounds the house. There is a smaller moat almost square and immediately to the W. of the main enclosure. It is said to be the site of a chapel, of which there are now no remains. In the N.E. angle is a small mound about 2 ft. high. The tank, about 50 yards S. of the smaller moat, is a rectangular structure (10 ft. by 8 ft.) of rubble, faced on the inside with red tiles, laid flat. Pottery found in the tank is said to have been of mediæval character.

^a(2). Monks Hardwick, house and moat, about 1 m. N.N.W. of (1). The House is of two storeys, timber-framed and plastered; the roofs are tiled. It was built late in the 16th century and is probably the only surviving wing of a much larger building. There is a modern addition at the S. end. On the W. side is a large projecting chimney-stack with stone dressings and two offsets; the bases of two diagonal shafts remain. Inside the building are original moulded ceiling-beams. The original stone fireplace on the ground-floor has moulded jambs and four-centred head. The original fireplace in the floor above has moulded jambs and square head; it is flanked by fluted Corinthian pilasters, standing on panelled pedestals and supporting an entablature.

The large rectangular Moat surrounds the house. Condition—Of house, poor.