Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

East Wansdyke
Hob Uid: 1031565
Location : West Berkshire, Wiltshire All Cannings, Grafton, Bishops Cannings, Great Bedwyn, Savernake, Hungerford, Shalbourne, Alton, Little Bedwyn, Inkpen, Stanton St. Bernard, Fyfield, Preshute, West Overton
Grid Ref : SU1956066440
Summary : Wansdyke is generally believed to be a military frontier work and boundary marker between Wessex and Mercia. The section of East Wansdyke was designed to hold the edge of the high ground on the downs and to protect the lower lying plains to the south west. Being of early medieval date, it was built by the mid 9th century, when it is mentioned in a Charter. The name derives from Woden's Dyke, after Woden, an inportant Anglo-Saxon god whose name survives in the word 'Wednesday'. The best preserved continuous length of Wansdyke, running from east of The Firs to the eastern side of Tan Hill is Scheduled. West Wansdyke may have later prehistoric origins with early medieval modifications, please see record 1066087.
More information : Linear 54 (SU 0227 6718 - SU 1956 6644): East Wansdyke (the 'East' is a recent addition for archaeological convenience) is a massive bank, with ditch on the North side, running between Morgans Hill on the East and Savernake Forest on the West. (1) Whether the two lesser works: Linear 54a (SU 2802 6575 - SU 2982 5837) (Bedwyn Dyke) and Linear 54b (SU 3223 6443 - SU 3524 6333) (Inkpen or Red Dyke), are part of East Wansdyke or whether they are separate entities remains uncertain. (2) For full details see Linear archive.

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Source Number : 1
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Source details : A and C Fox
Page(s) : Jan-48
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Vol(s) : 115, 1958

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Source details : F1 JWS Jul-1974
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Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Roman
Display Date : Roman
Monument End Date : 410
Monument Start Date : 43
Monument Type : Earthwork
Evidence : Earthwork

Monument Period Name : Early Medieval
Display Date : Built by the mid C9
Monument End Date : 866
Monument Start Date : 450
Monument Type : Frontier Defence, Dyke (Defence)
Evidence : Earthwork

Components and Objects:

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (County No.)
External Cross Reference Number : WI 366
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (National No.)
External Cross Reference Number : 28116
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : ViewFinder
External Cross Reference Number : 15583/24
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : LINEAR 54
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :

Associated Monuments :
Relationship type : Identified as

Associated Monuments :
Relationship type : General association

Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 1997-01-01
End Date : 1997-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD SURVEY
Start Date : 1997-08-01
End Date : 1998-12-01

Historic England Research Records

East Wansdyke