Low Dinsdale Manor House

Although a large number of moated sites survive in England, relatively few are known in the northern counties, including County Durham. The moated site at the Manor House is of unusual form with the existence of the outer enclosure and related earthworks, all of which survive in an excellent state of preservation. The circular form of the inner moat suggests a very early date of construction. This form of moat is also rare north of the Humber estuary. This monument, together with other medieval sites of similar and different form which survive in the region, will greatly contribute to our understanding of medieval rural life and economy in Durham.

The monument includes a medieval manorial site and related earthworks situated within a double moated enclosure on flat land which rises gently to the west and slopes down to the River Tees on the north. The inner enclosure is roughly circular in shape and is defined by a prominent ditch 15m across and 1m deep. It encloses a flat island which measures 50m east-west by 40m north-south.

An entrance way, via a Listed Grade II late medieval bridge on the south-east side of the moat, may represent the position of an original causeway or drawbridge giving access to the island. The site of the medieval manor house is located at the southern end of the island. Although encased and extended, the medieval core of the main block survives in the fabric of the present house, a Listed Grade II* building.

Excavations in the late 19th century uncovered the foundations and lower vaulted storey of a gatehouse to the south-east of the present house. The outer enclosure, an irregular polygon in shape, is formed by a second ditch, shallow on the east side but varying between 1.2m and 2.5m deep on the west and north sides and measuring 8m across. Immediately inside this ditch is a prominent bank measuring 7m across and surviving in places to a height of 1.5m. An original entrance is visible in the south-east which survives as a deep hollowed path breaching the bank and ditch of the outer enclosure. In total, the area enclosed by the outer ditch and bank measures a maximum of 225m east-west by 240m north-south.

The area between the outer and inner enclosures is occupied by numerous earthworks, remains of banks, ditches and hollow tracks, some of which appear to be earlier than the moated site as they are truncated by it. Several others are, however, contemporary with, or later than, the moated site and have the appearance of enclosures for holding stock or other agricultural purposes.

Immediately north of the inner moat are the remains of an ornamental fishpond, the present form of which is the result of Victorian and later alterations but which may have had a medieval precursor. A large square bowling or croquet green immediately south of the inner moat, which survives as an earthwork feature, is also of relatively recent date.

The moated site was the manorial seat of the Surtees family from the 12th century until the 19th century.

Manor house. Probably late medieval core; encased and extended c.1876. Rubble core; applied timbering on south face and east gable end; additions on north in large red bricks (stretcher bond); rubble porch and lean-to additions. Fish-scale clay tiles on main block and north face additions; stone flags on porch; Welsh slates on lean-to additions: Ornamental brick chimney stacks. Medieval main block with C17 west bay; c.1876 east bay; 2 cross-gabled c.1876 wings, with single-storey linking range between, added on north; former porch on west return of west wing.

The Manor House stands inside a double-moated enclosure and was the home of the Surtees family from the early C12 until the C19.

2-storey main block. 3-bay medieval core has 1.0 to 1.5-metre thick walls and added east and west bays; applied timbering with pebble-dashed brick infill panels. 6 scattered single- and 2-light windows on each floor, all replaced casements, some with splayed rear arches. Steeply-pitched roof with C20 dormer at east, raised verge with stone kneelers at west and crested ridge tiles: 2 ridge stacks; east stack marks original gable end. 3 single-storey lean-to additions on east gable end. Two 2-light chamfered-mullioned windows on west gable end. North (entrance) front: two 2-storey cross-gabled wings with steeply-pitched roofs; taller east wing has attic. Single-storey range between wings has studded door and a low-pitched-pent roof. Mainly 2- and 3- light late C19 wood-mullioned windows with iron casements. Former porch has possibly re-set hollow-chamfered semicircular archway with inserted C19 2-light window. Tall lateral chimneys with ornamental octagonal stacks.

Interior greatly altered c.1876. Imported bolection-moulded stone chimney- piece against east gable end has relief of 2 scaly fishes on frieze. Several ground-floor rooms with chamfered ceiling beams; woodwork brought from Bristol Cathedral including medieval choir stalls, panelling dated 1689 and 1733, part of a Baroque organ case in entrance hall, C18 box pews used as dadoes, etc. Possibly late medieval heraldic stained glass in room behind porch.

Small, single-track bridge across drained inner moat of Manor House site. Possibly late medieval but much altered. Sandstone rubble walls with thin flat coping stones. East face: narrow segmental arch with dressed voussoirs; roughly-stepped parapet breaks forward near north end. West face: arch not visible as ground banked up against wall; parapet splayed towards north end. Large late C19 circular stone plaque, on inner face of east parapet, has Surtees' family crest and motto: MALO MORI QUAM FOE DARI (I would rather die than be disgraced).