First World War Practice Trenches at Bodelwyddan Park

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.