Alternatively, it may be the medieval Vill of Northfield’s Sub-Manor of Middleton as the site was possibly included on the auctioneer’s plan for the sale of the Estate of Middleton Hall Messrs James and Lister Lea: Plan of Middleton Hall Freehold Building Estate August 23rd 1877 Hutton commented that "In the parish of King’s Norton, 4 miles south west of Birmingham is ‘The Moats’, upon which long resided the ancient family of Field.