Bodiam Castle, East Sussex

A royal licence to build romantic Bodiam Castle and its moat was granted in 1385 to one of Richard II's knights, Sir Edward Dalyngrigge, ‘for the defence of the adjacent country and resistance to the King’s enemies'.

© NTPL / Andrea Jones

Bodiam may have been simply a symbol of its builder's high status but there was a real fear at this time of an invasion by the French who had already burned nearby Rye and Folkestone and sacked Winchelsea.

Dunham Massey, Cheshire

The house is viewed across a tranquil stretch of water, a broad moat bending around the north and west walls of the mansion.

© NTPL / Neil Campbell-Sharp

In spring, the rich colours of Rhododendron ponticum and the warm red brick reflect on its surface.

Ightham Mote, Kent

Ightham Mote may get its name from the square moat around the house, or from the Anglo-Saxon work ‘moot’, meaning ‘meeting place’.

© NTPL / Rob Matheson

The stream-fed water is clear and in the 19th century, it is said, gentlemen of the house would fish from its windows.

Little Moreton Hall, Cheshire

Little Moreton Hall has a narrow walk around its moat which takes you past attractive vegetable and herb beds, abounding with old varieties.

© NTPL / Rupert Truman

The ornamental charm of the garden is quite a transformation from its original neglected state when first procured by the National Trust in 1938.

Oxburgh Hall, Norfolk

Despite being built during the Wars of the Roses, Oxburgh Hall has always been a home rather than a fortress.

© NTPL / Matthew Antrobus

The wide, peaceful moat encircles the mellow brick house, home to the Bedingfields for more than five centuries of turbulent history.

Scotney Castle, Kent

Only the round tower and ruined gatehouse remain of the original Scotney Castle. The house was found to be uninhabitable and, in 1836, several walls were demolished.

© NTPL / Stephen Robson

The moat once flowed around two islands, a curtain wall and four towers.

Words: Tamsin Hope Thomson