It has been suggested that a brook near the Moat farm south of Wickersley village marks the spot where Constantino and others began their flight in connection with the Battle of Brunanburh Source: The Battle of Brunanburh and Its Period Elucidated by Place-names By Cockburn, John Henry.
Moat Farm, situated half way between Wickersley and Morthen, retains a large part of its mediaeval earthworks. The Moat once belonged to the Rectory of Wickersley. Godfrey Bellamy de Moat was owner in 1781.
Moat Farm was in the tenure of Daniel Clark, and the occupation of Samuel Chipchase before 1759 (when Daniel Clark was murdered).
Extract from Notes and Queries:
Eugene Aram. - Until the year 1834, when considerable
reforms took place in the Court of Exchequer
with respect to sheriffs' accounts, a process
called "the Summons of the Pipe" issued into
each county, charging the sheriff with the levy of
divers old rents. In that of Yorkshire I noticed
the following entry, which I communicated to Mr.
Scatcherd. I am not aware that it has ever been
published. By inserting it you will relieve me
from the necessity of preserving my " note."
"Of the same Sheriff for the issues of waste building
in Knaresbrouyh. in the said county, in the tenure of
Daniel Clarke, of the yearly value of xxxxx and one
undivided moiety or fifth part of the whole, to be
divided into five equal parts of and in a certain farm
called Moat House farm, situate at Wickersley in the
said County, which consists (here followed particular),
in the occupation of Samuel Chipchase, of the yearly
value of xxxxx of the lands and tenements of Daniel
Clarke aforesaid, shoemaker, outlawed at the suit of
Philip Coates, gentleman, in a plea of trespass on the
case arrears."
" Philip Coates," says Mr. Scatcherd (Gleanings,
p. 26.), " attorney-at-law, a very respectable man,
married Clarke's wife's sister." It is singular that
a murdered man should be outlawed after death,
and that he should continue to haunt the Exchequer
for near a century afterwards. It is a complete
confirmation of the statement that Clarke
was supposed to have absconded, and that no suspicion
of foul play arose at the time of his disappearance.
W. G
Is there a connection with the Clarke family of Hellaby Hall?
Robert Snowden was at Moat Farm in 1849.
In 1881 J. Lister and his family were at Moat Farm.
In 1927 a Mr. Gill lived there.
In 1967 a Mr. Ogley, solicitor, lived there.