More information : [NT 9963 5366 - NT 9986 5363 and NT 9990 5365 NU 0018 5362]
Spades Mire. [L.B.] Spades Mire consists of two ditches, offset at NT 9987 5364 suggesting an original entrance. Originally the ditches extended further in both directions. To the W. the course is represented by a dip in the railway cutting at NT 9956 5368, while on the E, the ground seaward of the extant portion looks like ditch filling and the same impression is given by its appearance when viewed from the bathing pond immediately to the E.
The western arm is 30 feet wide and 10 feet deep, while the eastern is narrower and only 3 feet deep. It may represent the 13th C. defences of the town. Scheduled. The ditches are mainly well-preserved and correctly described. No apparent indications are visible to suggest that the feature originally extended further east, but a former westward extension seems likely. The western arm has probably been caused by rig and furrow ploughing, and does not appear to be an integral part of the earthwork. Published survey (25") revised.
Spades Mire seems to be part of an outer line of defence first constructed during one of the military crises of Berwick's medieval history. Not under guardianship. (5a)
NT 9964 5366-NU 0018 5362. Spades Mire earthwork survives as a ditch 540m long extending through the grounds of Berwick Middle School, where it is 3.8m maximum depth, eastwards to run alongside a public road terminating at a point where the road widens into a car park. The road occupies a flattened bank or rampart, 0.3m high, and broad rig has encroached upon the length of this bank. Surveyed by RCHME at 1:1250. (5)
NU 000 537; NT 997 537. Spades Mire. Scheduled No ND/282. (6)
A medieval dyke is visible as an earthwork on air photographs. The feature runs from NT 9963 5366 to NU 0017 5362 and consists of a wide ditch broken into four sections. (8)
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