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MONUMENT NO. 45222

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Dikes - a natural formation

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[SD 86382436] DIKES [GT] (1)

'The Dyke at Broadclough ... consists of a vast excavation described
by Dr. Whitaker (a) as an intrenchment more than 600 yards in length,
the trench 18 yards broad at the bottom, which he considers to be one
side of a vast British camp, intended to have been carried round
the hill, but for some reason left unfinished. The late Mr. J.J.
Wilkinson, F.R.A. S., of Burnley, who gave the same dimensions (b),
also thought it must have been abandoned in an unfinished state.
Mr. Newbigging (c) states that the Dyke is 11 or 12 feet high in the
deepest part; that it extends from the farm called "Dykes House"
to the edge of Whitaker's Clough, not continuously however, for
much of the centre is levelled. He differs from Dr. Whitaker and
Mr. Wilkinson as to its being an unfinished work, suggesting that
the rising ground in the rear and the extremities was protected by
strong natural defences of trees and underwood, forming an "abattis"
easily strengthened.
After careful personal examination I cannot resist grave doubts
whether this is an artificial excavation at all. Its immense extent,
the considerable space in the centre, evidently not "levelled" but
where no such work has ever been, and the fact that the mound
consists of undisturbed strata - loose shale - and not, as was
formerly supposed, of earth excavated from the trench - all militate
against the theory of an artificial entrenchment. - B.H. [The Rev.
Brooke Herford].' (2)

Earthwork Class 2 - [Includes linear earthworks either for military
defence, or as a boudary between peoples or property.] (3)

A natural formation. (4)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

OS 6" 1912.

( 2a) General reference

Hist of Whalley 3rd edn 1818 221 (Thomas D Whitaker)

( 2b) General reference

Trans L & C Hist Soc 9 1856 21 36 42 (JJ Wilkinson)

( 2c) General reference

History of the Forest of Rossendale 1868, p.10 (J. Newbigging).

( 2) General reference

History of Lancs 1889-90 3 389-399 (Edward Baines, Croston's edition)

( 3) General reference

VCH Lancs, Vol.2, 1908, p.555 (Willoughby Gardner)

( 4) Field Investigators Comments

F1 FDC 17-FEB-59

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