But as time went by, and the need to slow impending enemy attacks declined, they served an increasingly aesthetical and recreational purpose, often integrated into elaborate garden designs to add beauty to the surrounding landscape.
Today, homes with moats continue to have a unique attraction for prospective buyers, frequently evoking images of a bygone age and creating a sense of privacy.
By their very nature such properties will likely already be rich in character, but having such a rare and distinctive feature only adds to the historical charm.
Of course, moats require regular upkeep and maintenance, but the visual appeal regularly outweighs any wider considerations.
From a Grade II* listed Cambridgeshire manor house and the wing of a Lancashire castle, to a historic Norfolk hall and what’s thought to be the UK's oldest continuously inhabited home, featured below is a selection of our favourite moated properties currently on the market.
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