Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
First World War Practice Trenches at Bodelwyddan Park
Bodelwyddan, Denbighshire, Wales
A scheduled monument in Bodelwyddan, Denbighshire, recorded as Practice Trench (Post Medieval/Modern).
The record
- Designation
- Scheduled monument
- Site type
- Practice Trench
- Period
- Post Medieval/Modern
- Date of designation
- 24 May 1995
- Community
- Bodelwyddan
- Unitary authority
- Denbighshire
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates (centre of the scheduled area)
- 53.25797, -3.50089
- SAM number
- FL186
- Cadw record number
- 2231
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesBayerische Staatsbibliothek, MunichDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesLlyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of Wales
5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1588 map "Ortelius, Abraham: Theatro De La Tierra Universal. 0" (Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Munich).
Historical maps covering this location
- 1588 · Ortelius, Abraham: Theatro De La Tierra Universal. 0 (Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Munich)
- 1608 · (13) Cambriae Typus. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1795 · To Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn Bart ... the map of the six counties of North Wales is most… (Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of Wales)
- 1883 · Watershed map England, Wales 3. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1901 · Sheet 9 and 10. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
Cadw's description
Summary description and reason for designation
The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Ancient Monument.
The monument consists of the remains of World War I practice trenches and includes two firing trenches, which average about 1m deep and 1m wide and lie in uncultivated grassland. The front trench is sharply traversed and connected by communication trenches dug in zig-zags. To the west and sited uphill from the trenches is an earthwork which might be the position of the command post. Surrounding the trenches are numerous shell holes, indicating that the trenches were used for active training for firing.
The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of World War I military techniques. The monument retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of the presence of associated archaeological features and deposits. Practice trenches may be part of a larger cluster of anti-invasion defences and their importance can further enhanced by their group value.
The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive.
Nearby in the register
- Obelisk in Bodelwyddan Castle GardenGardens, Parks and Urban Spacesunder 1 mi
- Sundial in Bodelwyddan Castle Walled GardenGardens, Parks and Urban Spacesunder 1 mi
- Garden Shelter in Bodelwyddan Castle GardenNo class recordedunder 1 mi
- Play House in Bodelwyddan Castle GardenDomesticunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.