Offa's Dyke: Section from Ditchyeld Bridge to County Boundary

Cadw's description

Summary description and reason for designation

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Ancient Monument.

The monument consists of a linear earthwork, a substantial bank and ditch forming a major boundary between two adjacent landholdings. Most date from the late Bronze Age and Iron Age. Offa's Dyke, however, is known to date to the later 1st century AD. It runs roughly along the border between modern England and Wales. 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 work may have begun at least two centuries earlier than this. The remains included in this stretch consist for the most part of a largely levelled bank which is however still visible, standing up to c.0.2m high. It runs across a fairly level area of floodplain between the Hindwell Brook on its north and Riddings Brook on its south.

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. The remains form part of the record of the line of the earthwork, and their importance is 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.