Offa's Dyke: Section NE of Welshpool-Churchstoke Road

Cadw's description

Summary description and reason for designation

The following provides a general description of the scheduled monument.

The monument consists of the remains of a length of Offa’s Dyke. Offa’s Dyke is a boundary earthwork, believed to be of Early Medieval date running, with some gaps, for roughly 120km through the border area between modern Wales and England from Sedbury near Chepstow to Treuddyn in Flintshire. It is traditionally thought to have been built by the Mercian King Offa in the later 8th century, but recent excavations on a section near Chirk suggest that some sections may incorporate earlier earthworks. Whilst its exact function and original form are still the subject of debate Offa's Dyke is significant as the longest and one of the earliest surviving boundary monuments in Europe marking a nominal frontier between Saxon Mercia and Welsh kingdoms to the west. It represents one of the great engineering achievements of the pre-industrial age and the most dramatic built structure to survive from the early medieval (c410-1100) period in the Britain. Offa’s Dyke is scheduled in multiple different sections on both sides of the present border. These display their own local physical characteristics but all share and contribute to the overall significance of the monument and have potential to enhance our knowledge of the monument as a whole. Approximately 80km of the monument coincides with the Offa’s Dyke Path National Trail, which runs from Prestatyn to Sedbury. This section is approximately 460m long, beginning at the northern end of the lane leading down to the stream, and ending at the field next but one to the Welshpool - Churchstoke Road. The dyke runs NE - SW, to the east of, and parallel to the B4388, and is crossed in the NE section by the minor road running from Forden to Kingswood. The NE section to the north of this minor road has been disturbed by a modern track. To the E of this track the dyke is visible as a low grassy mound in rough pasture. Its summit is followed by a hedge. To the west of the path the bank is very slight, again followed by a hedge and situated in improved pasture. To S of the road the dyke is visible as a low grassy mound c 2m above bottom of the ditch on the west. The scheduled area is encroached upon by private gardens. Further south the dyke bank becomes slighter, standing to a maximum height of c 1.75m above the ditch. For most of its length it is followed by a hedge.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of early medieval defensive organisation and settlement. It retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of the presence of associated archaeological features and deposits. A dyke may be part of a larger cluster of monuments and their importance can be further enhanced by their group value.

The scheduled area comprises the remains described and the areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive.