Thundridge Old Church tower is a grade II* listed building that lies within a scheduled monument comprised of a medieval moated enclosure, the remains of the Thundridgebury (also Thundridge Bury) manor house, and the Thundridge Old Church graveyard. The monument is protected against disturbance under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act of 1979. While listed and within the monument, the tower of Thundridge Old Church itself is not part of the scheduled monument, but the ground beneath it and the in-ground remains of the demolished church are.

The Moated Enclosure

The moated enclosure is D-shaped and measures approximately 195m north-south by 200m east-west. The moat itself is dry and varies in width between 7m and 20m. Historic England considers the moated enclosure of Thundridgebury is unusual because of its size, up to 2.8ha, and the variety of features within it.

According to Historic England, there are around 6,000 known moated sites in England.

They consist of wide ditches, often or seasonally water-filled, partly or completely enclosing one or more islands of dry ground on which stood domestic or religious buildings. In some cases the islands were used for horticulture. The majority of moated sites served as prestigious aristocratic and seigneurial residences with the provision of a moat intended as a status symbol rather than a practical military defence. The peak period during which moated sites were built was between about 1250 and 1350 and by far the greatest concentration lies in central and eastern parts of England. However, moated sites were built throughout the medieval period, are widely scattered throughout England and exhibit a high level of diversity in their forms and sizes. They form a significant class of medieval monument and are important for the understanding of the distribution of wealth and status in the countryside. Many examples provide conditions favourable to the survival of organic remains.

The moated enclosure was scheduled in 1990 as Historic England List Entry Number 1012268.

Thundridgebury

The ruined remains of Thundridgebury manor house, which is believed to date from the 16th century, lie in the wooded area inside the moated enclosure just to the north of Thundridge Old Church. The house was demolished in 1811-1812 though the chimneystack was left standing; the chimneystack was still in place during an English Heritage survey in 1971, but a survey in 2001 reported that the chimneystack had disappeared with only its foundation remaining. The location of the house and outbuildings are indicated by brick foundations, which are protected from disturbance as part of the scheduled monument.