More information : [ST 50293307 to ST 50543325] New Ditch [GT]
New Ditch, situated in Butleigh Wood is an earthwork of similar
construction to Ponter's Ball [ST 53 NW 3] and both were
probably part of a more extensive scheme of defence for this
portion of central Somerset.
Like Ponter's Ball, New Ditch also has the fosse lying to the
E. of the earthwork, and crosses the Polden Hills at the
narrowest point. It is nearly half a mile in length and was
probably of greater extent originally. (2) Ponter's Ball has
been tentatively dated to the EIA. through the finding of
possible IA. 'B' pottery there (3)
New Ditch consists of a bank with a ditch on the southeast. It
extends from ST 50553325 to ST 50323309 up the E. side of a
ridge and ends just short of a modern road. Surveyed at 1:2500.
On the W. side of the road a S. facing scarp can be traced for
approx. 40. metres after which it changes to a N. facing scarp
for a further 30 metres. There is no trace of ditch.
Quarrying has taken place on this side of the road and the
feature cannot be identified as part of New Ditch.
As it stands "New Ditch" cannot be termed a cross-ridge dyke
and although it seems to be a boundary work it has not the
massive construction of Ponter's Ball.
Note: Ponters Ball (ST 53 NW 3) is now tentatively thought to
be Medieval.
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