Gardens: 8 Modern-day Moats That Float Our Boats
They're not just for castles - see how a moat can make for an eye-catching contemporary garden feature
Water in the garden is magical; even more so when it’s adjacent to the house, requiring us to cross it to reach the front door. Maybe the magic comes from childhood stories of castles and moats, but moats certainly don’t exist only in castles.
Traditionally moats were crossed with a simple raised drawbridge, while modern moats are generally spanned by decked walkways or even concrete stepping stones. Using water close to our houses can give us some of the historical benefits of medieval moats - a sense of security, controlled access to the house and the aesthetic pleasure of being close to water.
You might think that many of these examples aren’t moats in the literal sense, but without doubt these water features have their roots in our medieval past.
Traditionally moats were crossed with a simple raised drawbridge, while modern moats are generally spanned by decked walkways or even concrete stepping stones. Using water close to our houses can give us some of the historical benefits of medieval moats - a sense of security, controlled access to the house and the aesthetic pleasure of being close to water.
You might think that many of these examples aren’t moats in the literal sense, but without doubt these water features have their roots in our medieval past.
Even in the simplest of gardens, a moat can be both practical and ornamental. This basic timber-decked drawbridge creates easy access over the moat, once again bringing echoes of the past.
In medieval times a more peaceful use of the moat was to supply fish for the table. In this contemporary setting, ornamental fish now fill the moat, rather than carp or pike.
In medieval times a more peaceful use of the moat was to supply fish for the table. In this contemporary setting, ornamental fish now fill the moat, rather than carp or pike.
Not all moats contain water; some early versions were just ditches dug around fortified buildings. Dry moats were used by the early-American colonists in New England to protect their forts. In some respects the ha-ha, or sunken ditch, served the same purpose.
This raised bridge provides a spectacular entrance, as it spans woodland surrounding the house.
This raised bridge provides a spectacular entrance, as it spans woodland surrounding the house.
Not all modern moats are used for the practical purposes of providing security and suitable access; many are designed just for aesthetic effect.
Large sheets of still water, sometimes artificially darkened with dye or having dark construction materials, beautifully reflect the building and the landscape that surrounds it, blending the two together.
Large sheets of still water, sometimes artificially darkened with dye or having dark construction materials, beautifully reflect the building and the landscape that surrounds it, blending the two together.
Reflections in moats can be livened up with movement, creating patterns in the reflected sky and landscape.
The simple tube waterfalls here not only create movement in the moat, but also add atmospheric sound, while once again a boarded walk mirrors the drawbridges of the past.
See how to design a calming minimalist garden
The simple tube waterfalls here not only create movement in the moat, but also add atmospheric sound, while once again a boarded walk mirrors the drawbridges of the past.
See how to design a calming minimalist garden
Finally, a great example of a minimalist contemporary moat. Pared down to its bones, this design provides the benefits we have looked at: The walkway provides access, and the sheet of water provides a sense of security and wonderfully reflects the garden.
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Which garden is your favourite? Share yours in the Comments below.
TELL US…
Which garden is your favourite? Share yours in the Comments below.
These randomly shaped stepping stones lead over the moat, fulfilling its traditional purpose of blocking the entrance but with more of a visual sense of a barrier than a practical one.
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