Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Wats Dyke
Hob Uid: 1038816
Location : Shropshire Selattyn and Gobowen, St. Martin's, Oswestry Rural, Oswestry
Grid Ref : SJ2970031300
Summary : The earthwork known as Wat's Dyke, which stretches for roughly 38 miles from Morda Brook in Shropshire northwards to Basingwerk-on-Dee. Wat's Dyke lies to the east of Offa's Dyke, and its northern section, beyond the end of Offa's Dyke, stands alone as the early border with Wales. Forming the frontier boundary of Mercia, this largely continuous earthwork was constructed by King Aethelbald between 716 to 757.
More information : Wat's Dyke is an early frontier earthwork of Mercia extending from the estuary of the Dee at Basingwerk, Flintshire (now Clwyd) to the Morda brook at Maesbury Mill, Shropshire, a distance of 38 miles. It is roughly parallel on the east to the northern sector of Offa's Dyke (LINEAR 333) and is uniform in character, a single rampart and a ditch to the west, representing a single design and construction by King Aethelbald (716-757), the predecessor of Offa. Detailed field survey by Sir Cyril Fox in 1934. (1) [Ordnance Survey Linear Archive File in RCAHMW Aberystwyth] (2) Until recently an 8th-century date for Wat's Dyke has been widely accepted. That date is now disputed on the basis of new evidence, which suggests that it was built either during the reigns of Cenwulf and Ceolwulf (AD 796-823) or Wiglaf (AD 830s). Luminescence dates from the fill of the ditch at Gobowen further imply that the process of filling started in the early 9th century. (3)

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Source details : Ordnance Survey Linear Archive File LINEAR 10 in NMRC
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Source Number : 3
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Source details : Malim, T & Hayes, L 2008 Anglo-Saxon Studies in Archaeology and History vol 15, 147-179
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Source details : 08-Dec-97
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Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Early Medieval
Display Date : 716 to 757
Monument End Date : 757
Monument Start Date : 716
Monument Type : Dyke (Defence), Frontier Defence
Evidence : Earthwork

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Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : SMR Number (Shropshire)
External Cross Reference Number : SA1001
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (County No.)
External Cross Reference Number : SA 114
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External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (County No.)
External Cross Reference Number : SA 115
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (National No.)
External Cross Reference Number : 27556
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : LINEAR 10
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Related Warden Records :

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Relationship type : General association

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Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1972-01-01
End Date : 1976-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1973-01-01
End Date : 1973-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1976-01-01
End Date : 1976-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1977-01-01
End Date : 1980-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1980-01-01
End Date : 1989-12-31

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Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1981-01-01
End Date : 1985-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY
Start Date : 1983-01-01
End Date : 1983-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1987-01-01
End Date : 1987-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1992-01-01
End Date : 1992-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EVALUATION
Start Date : 1996-01-01
End Date : 1996-12-31

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

Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 2002-01-01
End Date : 2002-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : DESK BASED ASSESSMENT
Start Date : 2003-01-01
End Date : 2003-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EVALUATION
Start Date : 2003-01-01
End Date : 2003-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 2003-01-01
End Date : 2003-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 2005-01-01
End Date : 2005-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EVALUATION
Start Date : 2006-01-01
End Date : 2006-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 2006-01-01
End Date : 2006-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EVALUATION
Start Date : 2006-01-01
End Date : 2006-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 2008-01-01
End Date : 2008-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : DESK BASED ASSESSMENT
Start Date : 2010-01-01
End Date : 2012-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EVALUATION
Start Date : 2012-01-01
End Date : 2012-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EVALUATION
Start Date : 2014-01-01
End Date : 2014-12-31

Historic England Research Records

Wats Dyke